Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 April 2016
340. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if funding to organisations providing services to persons with a disability are subject to ongoing review so as to facilitate the provision of services across seven days, including weekends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7596/16]
View answerIn addition to the services provided directly by the HSE, the HSE’s Social Care Directorate also enters into arrangements with non-statutory agencies for the provision of social care services, including services to persons with a disability, on its behalf. The contractual mechanism for this funding is through a standardised national Service Arrangements framework. Service Arrangements contain a formal specification of services to be provided in return for funding and set out clearly defined service levels, outcomes and performance indicators, enabling effective monitoring of performance.
Service Arrangements are multi-annual while the Schedules to the Service Arrangement, which set out specific details such as the quantum of services and funding, must be reviewed and agreed annually between the HSE and the agency to reflect changes in levels of service, funding and so on, for the each calendar year. The HSE monitors the operation of the Service Arrangements at local level and holds performance review meetings with agencies on a regular basis.
