Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2016
325. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on a submission received on the future of disability policy in Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4886/16]
View answerThe submission referred to by the Deputy was made in response to a public invitation for submissions on health-funded disability policy in Ireland in November 2011. The call for submissions asked for the views of the public on the Disability Policy Report prepared by the Policy Expert Reference Group, which was established to advise the Disability Services Value for Money (VFM) and Policy Review Steering Group.
The submissions were considered carefully and taken into account by the VFM Steering Group in finalising their Report on the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services in Ireland, which was published in July 2012. The Review, which is currently being implemented by the Health Service Executive, recommended a significant restructuring of the Disability Services Programme through migration from an approach which is predominantly organised around group-based service delivery towards a model of person-centred, individually chosen, supports; and implementation of a more effective method of assessing need, allocating resources and monitoring resource use.
