Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 October 2019
188. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if the new funding model for persons with disabilities and multi-annual funding will be implemented (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40119/19]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Independent Review Group was established in August 2017 to examine the role of voluntary organisations in health and personal social services. I welcomed the publication of the Independent Review Group’s final report in February 2019, as did Minister McGrath.
The Group makes a series of findings and linked recommendations in its report, spanning a broad range of areas, including funding and governance of organisations. These recommendations are made to the Department, HSE, other State bodies, and voluntary organisations themselves.
It is important to note that the Group did not identify a new model for the funding of services for people with a disability, or any other health and personal service area, nor were they requested to do so.
Many of the recommendations align with work already underway to progress the Sláintecare programme. The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy commits to reform the funding system to support new models of care and drive value to make better use of resources. In this regard the Department is examining the feasibility of implementing multi-annual budgeting in the healthcare system, including in Social Care and disability service provision.
