Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 September 2013
24. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied recent events at Stewarts, Dublin 20 and St. Michael’s House, Ballymun do not undermine the commitment in the programme for Government to ensure the quality of life of persons with disabilities is enhanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40011/13]
View answerThis 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.
In 2013 the HSE is seeking to maximise the provision of services within available resources and is committed 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.
With regards to Stewart’s Hospital the HSE has confirmed that Stewarts Care have agreed placements with all families that fully meet the needs of the young people who are completing their education this year at Stewarts Care. This has come about as a result of reconfiguration of services and on-going dialogue between the HSE and Stewarts Care. I understand that families have confirmed their satisfaction with the services offered.
In relation to St Michael's House, under the Health Act 2004, the HSE is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services, including disability services. The HSE either directly provides or contracts disability agencies such as St Michael’s House to provide a range of disability services through service level arrangements.
St Michael’s House received over €70 million in 2012 in funding from the HSE to provide a range of services to approximately 1,660 children and adults with an intellectual disability in over 170 centres in the Greater Dublin Area and Navan Co. Meath.
The HSE and St Michael's House work in close collaboration with regard to the funding and delivery of services to people with an intellectual disability. As a voluntary agency, St Michael’s house are obliged to work within the resources available to them and in that regard have introduced significant efficiencies over recent years to remain within budget. The HSE has advised that these changes to date have not resulted in service contraction.
The Haddington Road Agreement (HRA) sets out measures relating to productivity, cost extraction and reform which together intends to achieve a required pay bill reduction of €150m identified in the HSE Service Plan 2013. The agreement provides a framework and opportunities for managers within the health services, including agencies such as St Michael's House, to reduce their costs associated with agency and overtime and a wide range of other pay costs, particularly through measures such as additional working hours and revised rates in respect of overtime.
The HSE has advised the Department of Health that the recent application of additional budget cuts under the HRA has presented a significant challenge to St Michael's House. A process is now under way between the HSE and St Michael’s House to identify the impact of these budget reductions on services. The Department of Health has received assurances from the HSE that both organisations are committed to working within the terms of the HRA to ensure that services are impacted upon only as a measure of last resort.
