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Services for People with Disabilities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

Questions (934)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

934. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the rationale and criteria used in determining a 3.7% budget cutback figure as the disability sector’s contribution to the health sector budget rationalisation plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1235/13]

View answer

Written answers

The amount allocated for Disability Services this year is €1,535m, which is a reduction of 1.2% on the allocation for 2012. €6m of the reduction relates to savings and efficiencies in the disability sector and is based on the implementation of the recommendations in the Report of the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services Programme (2012). This report points the way towards the achievement of optimal effectiveness and efficiency within the existing substantial resources expended on health and personal services for people with a disability. During 2013 the HSE will commence an early examination of the VFM findings in regard to rosters, skills mix, the unit cost base and average costs across the HSE-funded agencies in the sector. A commissioning and procurement framework will also be developed during the course of the year. The balance of the reduction relates to the disability sector share of staff numbers reductions, such as the Employment Control Framework (ECF) and the incentivised career break scheme.

The Government is committed to protecting frontline services for people with disabilities to the greatest possible extent and I am working to ensure that protection is afforded to the disability sector, and the Social Care area as a whole.

In 2013 the HSE is seeking to maximise the provision of services within available resources and to maintaining a consistent level to that provided in 2012, by providing the following specialist disability services:

- residential services to over 9,000 people with a disability;

- day services to over 22,000 people with intellectual and physical disabilities;

- respite residential support for over 7,500 people with intellectual and physical disabilities;

- 1.68m hours of Personal Assistant / Home Support Hours

The HSE's National Service Plan includes €150m in unallocated pay savings which are not, as yet, reflected in the programme or regional budgets. These pay savings targets will be allocated later in 2013, when the terms of the expected agreement with public sector unions on an extension of the Public Service Agreement becomes known.

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