Services for People with Disabilities

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 November 2014

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Questions (135)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

135. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No.113 of 15 October 2014, if he will liaise with the Department of Education and Skills to devise a fairer and more progressive approach to continuing education and school transport for persons with disabilities as they enter adulthood, as the current system presents numerous transitional difficulties and there seems to be a lack of joined-up thinking on a number of fronts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44514/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services, including specialised disability support services for young adults who leave school and have ongoing support needs. The HSE either directly provides or contracts disability agencies to provide a range of disability services through service level arrangements.

Where resources permit, the HSE or other disability service providers arrange transport to and from their services. However, the provision of transport is not a core function of HSE-funded disability services and resources must be prioritised by the HSE towards the provision of core health and personal social services.