Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 December 2013
208. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the funding arrangements in place to avoid the delays experienced in securing appropriate services for persons with a disability upon graduating from school in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53338/13]
View answerThe HSE National Service Plan for 2014 was submitted to my colleague, the Minister for Health on 25th November and is under consideration at present. The National Service Plan is prepared in accordance with the Health Acts and outlines the type and volume of health and personal services to be provided in 2014. I cannot comment on the provision of funding for specific services in the National Service Plan until the Plan has been approved by the Minister. However, the Minister has indicated to the Director General of the HSE that the provision of placements for school-leavers with disabilities is one of the priority service areas to be addressed in the 2014 National Service Plan.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has established a National Oversight Group consisting of disability umbrella organisations and HSE Regional Leads for disability services to coordinate a timely response to processing applications for day services and rehabilitative training places for school-leavers graduating in 2014.
I have been informed by the HSE that they are in the process of developing a new centralised regional application process which will be communicated to disability agencies by the end of December with the necessary information for agencies to distribute to parents also available by the end of December. It is envisaged that applications for day service and rehabilitative training places will be required to be returned to service providers by a specified date and young people and their parents will be advised of the option available to them by the middle of 2014.
With regard to young people with special needs currently attending mainstream schools, the HSE will provide information to the Department of Education and Skill's Special Education Support Service for schools to distribute to parents. Specialist disability services should not be the first option considered by a young person currently in mainstream school. The HSE, through its Occupational Guidance Service, will work with schools, service providers, young people and their families to identify training needs and explore suitable options.
