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Social Inclusion Forum

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2013

Tuesday, 23 April 2013

Questions (579)

Finian McGrath

Question:

579. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will explain the way the Social Inclusion Forum which plans to address poverty and social exclusion is compatible with the cuts faced by many families with children/adults with disability (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18250/13]

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Written answers

The Social Inclusion Forum was established by the Government as part of the structures to monitor and evaluate the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016. This event provides a forum for wider public consultation and discussion on social inclusion issues, in particular for people experiencing poverty and social exclusion and the groups that work with them. The forum has ensured that such stakeholders have a voice in the development of the policies that directly affect them, and how they are implemented. The Social Inclusion Forum is convened by the Department of Social Protection. In relation to disability funding, this Government currently provides funding of over €1.5 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the HSE’s National Service Plan for 2013, and is committed to protecting frontline services for people with disabilities to the greatest possible extent.

The Minister for Health is 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; and 1.68 million hours of Personal Assistant/Home Support Hours. The Government and the HSE are committed to protecting the level of Personal Assistant services available to persons with disabilities. In the 2013 National Service Plan (NSP), the HSE's priority is to maximise the provision of services to people with disabilities within available resources and to maintain a consistent level to that provided for in 2012, including the provision of 1.68 million hours of Personal Assistant/Home Support Hours.

The demand for life-skills training and day services for school-leavers with disabilities continues to grow. The HSE expects that approximately 700 school-leavers will require services in 2013. I am pleased to confirm that, although the 2013 allocation for disability services has been reduced by 1.2%, the HSE National Service Plan includes an additional €4 million to provide training places and day services for school-leavers in 2013. This funding will be allocated to each HSE Region based on the percentage of population. The recommendations of the National Working Group for the Review of HSE-funded Adult Day Services (New Directions) will guide the reconfiguration and modernisation of HSE funded adult day services and will underpin the collaborative action in terms of flexibility and innovation when addressing requirements for school leavers in 2013. Currently the National Disability Unit is liaising with the Regional Leads for Disability Services in terms of a cohesive and collaborative approach to meeting the needs of school leavers within the resources available. 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.

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