Neuro-Rehabilitation Services Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016

Tuesday, 18 October 2016

Questions (81, 485)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

81. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health his plans, exclusive of investment in the new NRH hospital development, for investment in neuro-rehabilitation services in 2017; his further plans to invest new funding in community neuro-rehabilitation services in 2017 to meet the commitment under the programme for Government around the development of neuro-rehabilitation services in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30497/16]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

485. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if any of the €10 million additional funding in the area of disabilities earmarked for programme for Government commitments will be allocated to the implementation plan of the neuro-rehabilitation strategy and the development of community teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30635/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 485 together.

I am very pleased that as part of Budget 2017, I have been able to both protect significant existing resources and obtain additional funding for disability services. The allocation for disability services will rise to over €1.654 billion in 2017, as compared with the 2016 allocation of €1.562 billion.

The Programme for Partnership Government places a particular focus on a number of key programmes and strategies, including publishing a plan for advancing Neuro-rehabilitation services in the community. I will ask the Health Service Executive, in preparing its National Service Plan for 2017, to examine how a number of key priorities from the Programme for Partnership Government may be progressed within the overall increased envelope of funding for disability services.