Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 October 2004
148 Mr. Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties encountered by a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; if respite care will be made available to them; the legal responsibilities of her Department in the care of persons with physical disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24752/04]
View answerThe provision of health services, including respite care, to people with a physical and or sensory disability is a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards in the first instance. Accordingly, the Deputy's question has been referred to the chief executive officer of the North Western Health Board with a request that he investigate the matter and reply directly to the Deputy, as a matter of urgency.
My Department has no direct function in the provision of health services to individuals. One of the principal responsibilities of the Department is to advise and support the Minister in determining national policy. In the area of services to persons with a disability, this involves working closely with the regional health boards, the relevant service providers, other professionals and national representative bodies, including those representing the parents of children with a disability. This can be described as a partnership approach which enables the Department to put in place strategies to guide the development of services and to identify priority areas of need.
The statutory responsibility for the provision of a range of health services is vested in the regional health boards under the Health Act 1970. Each health board decides the services to be provided within its area from the annual determination of expenditure allocated to it by the Minister. In deciding the services to be provided within its area, each health board must take account of the Minister's policies and objectives.
