Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 November 2014
141. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health to explain the way the Health Service Executive will address the funding needs for services for persons with disabilities in Longford-Westmeath, with specific reference to St. Christopher’s Services, Longford and St. Hilda's, Athlone, County Westmeath. [42776/14]
View answerSt. Christopher’s and St. Hilda’s Services are funded under Section 39 of the Health Act and are expected to receive over €8.24m and €4.1m respectively from the HSE in 2014.
St. Christopher's and St. Hilda's are responsible for the management of their resources within their allocated funding. The HSE has been notified by St. Christopher’s of its financial difficulty, particularly in relation to services at Marion Avenue, Ballymahon and Morlea House, Longford. The HSE is working closely with the Board of Directors of St. Christopher’s to assist them in finding efficiencies within their service and a number of measures to reduce their funding deficit have been proposed and meetings are ongoing in this regard.
The HSE has informed me that its priority is to support those adults and children and their families who rely on disability services provided by St. Christopher's and St. Hilda's in the Longford/Westmeath area, and to ensure that a sustainable service will be in place for the future.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with the HSE.
