Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013
915. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the total number of new school leavers and those exiting RT with a learning disability in 2013 who require a placement; the cost of the provision of these additional placements; if he will provide a breakdown by Health Service Executive region and PCCC area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27301/13]
View answerAlthough the 2013 allocation for disability services has been reduced by 1.2%, the Health Service Executive (HSE) National Service Plan includes an additional €4m to provide training places and day services for school-leavers and Rehabilitative / Lifeskills Training (RT) graduates in 2013. This funding will be allocated to each HSE Region based on its percentage of population. Both the voluntary sector and the HSE are committed to the best use of the funding in a creative and flexible manner so as to secure as many places as possible for this cohort.
The HSE expects that approximately 700 young people who have finished their education or life-skills training will require services in 2013. Providing the level of services required for everyone, within the additional funding, will continue to be a challenge. Work in this area will be progressed largely in line with the HSE guidance document developed in 2012, which led to the successful placement of 99% of RT graduates and 96% of school leavers last year.
The National Disability Unit in the HSE is liaising with the Regional Leads for Disability Services on a cohesive and collaborative approach, in conjunction with the non-statutory service providers, to meeting the needs of school leavers and RT graduates within the resources available. As part of the planning process work is underway to establish the number of school leavers and RT graduates who require a placement, identify their needs and determine how those needs may be met.
It is envisaged that plans will be completed for each region shortly and submitted to Area Managers, Regional Specialists and Regional Director of Operations for agreement. Arising from completed and approved plans, a communication process will be agreed with service providers to inform families of the services that will be available from September 2013.
With regard to the specific information requested by the Deputy on the final number of school-leavers and RT graduates in each HSE Region and PCCC area who will require a place, the number of new places which will be required and the cost of providing these places, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy as soon as the planning process is completed and the information has been collated.
