Mary Lou McDonald
Question:776. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the day services for persons with disabilities that remain closed; and the date that each centre is expected to reopen in tabular form. [26329/20]
View answerTuesday, 29 September 2020
Questions (776, 777, 778)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:777. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the measures that will be put in place to address reduced capacity in reopened day services for persons with a disability which is as high as 60% for some services. [26330/20]
View answerMary Lou McDonald
Question:778. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the amount that will be allocated to the reopening of day services for persons with a disability; if the expenditure will be ring-fenced for this purpose; and if the expenditure will remain separate from the HSE winter plan. [26331/20]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 776 to 778, inclusive, together.
I was pleased to announce with Minister Donnelly this week that €10 million is being made available to support the resumption of day services and enhanced home support services for disability service users. As issues around the resumption of disability day services are COVID specific, funding was sought from the National Action Plan on COVID-19.
Of this €10 million, €7.5 million will increase disability day services by one day a week for over 14,000 adults. €2.5 million will provide 210 intensive support packages to enable children and young adults to remain at home and in their communities.
The additional funding will further support the resumption of day services, which began to gradually resume throughout August and September. However, it should be noted that capacity in day service locations will be reduced, in line with public health guidance. The HSE and service providers will keep this measure under review and as public health guidance evolves, capacity to provide supports will adapt accordingly. Both the HSE and service providers are committed to maximising the support that can be provided within these restrictions.
I want to acknowledge the many challenges experienced by individuals and their families over this difficult time. Families across the country have had their routines upended due to the impact of COVID-19 and I hope that this will be the first step towards returning to some sense of normalcy.
The Guidance to support the Framework for Resumption of Adult Disability Day Services is available on the New Directions website: www.hse.ie/newdirections . The HSE have also issued monthly communications updates for service users and their families, and the latest update, a video message from the Head of Strategy and Planning HSE Disability Services, is available at the above link.
An information portal that contains the dates on which the 966 disability day service locations reopened around the country is available. This information can be accessed at www.hse.ie/newdirections
As the Deputy's question also pertains to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.