Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013
935. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the way the social and economic implications of the policy of budget cutbacks for those school leavers with disabilities, who are no longer guaranteed rehabilitative training or day service funding, are to be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1236/13]
View answerI recognise the importance of life-skills training and day care services to people with disabilities who are leaving the education system in 2013. Day services for adults with disabilities provide a network of support for people who have a wide spectrum of need, ranging from those with severe and profound disabilities who are likely to need long-term specialist service provision to people with lower support needs and greater potential for community participation and inclusion. The HSE, through its Occupational Guidance Service, works with schools, service providers, service users and families to identify the needs of young people with disabilities who are due to complete their second level education. The aim is to address the needs of individuals in the following ways:
- Health-funded rehabilitative (life skills) training (RT);
- Health-funded day services;
- FÁS-funded vocational training;
- Approval to extend education placement for a specified time.
The demand for services for school-leavers continues to grow. In 2012, almost 700 school-leavers required RT places or day services and the position in 2013 is expected to be similar. While the HSE makes every effort to provide day services or RT places to school-leavers with special needs, this has always been dependant on the availability and location of appropriate places coupled with the needs of the individual school-leaver. The HSE is currently reviewing the outcomes for 2012 school-leavers in terms of placements achieved and scoping out the likely requirements for 2013. I wish to acknowledge the work of the HSE and the voluntary service providers in meeting the considerable challenges placed on them last year by finding places for the vast majority of school-leavers without additional funding. I am pleased to confirm however that, although the 2013 allocation for disability services has been reduced by 1.2%, the HSE National Service Plan includes an additional €4m to provide training places and day services for school-leavers in 2013. Both the voluntary sector and the HSE are committed to the best use of this funding in a creative and flexible manner so as to secure as many places as possible within the available resources although this will continue to be a challenge in the current environment.
