Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 June 2004
172 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has made representations to the Department of Finance seeking funding to ensure the implementation of the Harman report in regard to Moore Abbey, Monasterevin, County Kildare; the result of such representations, if made; the contact his Department has had from the ERHA and the SWAHB in regard to the matter; the result of such consultations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18054/04]
View answer173 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the proposals of the Harman report in regard to staffing levels at Moore Abbey, Monasterevin, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18055/04]
View answer174 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the protest of the staff at Moore Abbey, Monasterevin, County Kildare; the meetings his Department has had in relation to the matter; if his Department has met with or received representations from the INO in regard to the matter; the results or proposals in regard to such meetings or representations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18056/04]
View answer175 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children when his Department will provide the funding to ensure that the extra 24 placements at Moore Abbey Hospital can be filled; if his Department has received representations from the SWAHB for the funding; if his Department has met with officials of the SWAHB to discuss the matter; if such a meeting took place, the results of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18057/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 172 to 175, inclusive, together.
In addition to providing funding to put in place new service developments to meet identified needs in relation to residential, respite, day and other support services, funding was also provided to meet identified needs in existing services. These needs arise as a result of the changing profile of persons with an intellectual disability or those with autism in the services, and in particular the residential services, which has resulted in an increasing number of older and medically fragile persons. They would also relate to issues such as underfunding of base budgets, including the need to consolidate elements of services previously funded from sources such as fundraising. My Department has sought over the years to address these issues as resources have permitted. Between 1998 and 2002, additional revenue funding amounting to €27 million was allocated to services for persons with intellectual disability and those with autism to meet identified needs in existing services, including those provided by Moore Abbey. The Harmon report referred to by the Deputy would be included in this category.
My Department has identified both this need and the requirement for new service developments in the context of Estimates discussions with the Department of Finance over the years. These discussions have resulted in the additional revenue funding which I have mentioned. However, the overall economic position in 2003 and 2004 has had implications for all aspects of public investment and this was reflected in the Estimates and budget adopted by the Government for those years. The funding allocated to the health services has been applied largely to maintaining existing levels of service across all service programmes.
Service provision for people with intellectual, physical or sensory disabilities and those with autism is one of the limited number of areas in which additional revenue funding has been provided by the Government in any Department over 2003 and 2004. In respect of services to persons with intellectual disability and autism, this revenue funding, amounting to €43 million up to the end of 2004, was specifically provided to meet costs associated with the provision of emergency residential placements, extra day places, particularly for young adults leaving school, and to enhance the health related support services for children.
While my Department has been made aware of this issue, it is a matter in the first instance for the agency and the relevant health boards, namely, the South Western Area Health Board and the Midland Health Board, as it relates to service provision.
