Thomas Pringle
Question:182. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his priorities relating to disability services for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38930/20]
View answerWednesday, 25 November 2020
Questions (182)
Written answers
Disability services focus on enabling people with disabilities to achieve their full potential, living ordinary lives in ordinary places, as independently as possible while ensuring that the voices of service users and their families are heard, and that they are fully involved in planning and improving services to meet their needs.
In line with the Governments Resilience & Recovery Framework (2020 – 2021), the HSE regards the provision of disability services as essential to maintaining a response to people with a disability, in the same way that schools and creches are. It is important to note that Government’s intention is that disability services will remain open at each level of the Resilience and Recovery Framework, subject to public health guidance.
In the first budget of this government, I am pleased that we have secured significant additional funding to start delivering on the commitments we made to people with disabilities in the Programme for Government. Budget 2021 provides for an unprecedented level of investment in disability services, with an investment of €100m for new initiatives in 2021. This will build on the investment already in place, and on the €20 million once off funding being made available in 2020 for disability voluntary service providers engaged in the Transforming Lives Reform programme. Additional funding to support recovery of services in the context of COVID-19 has also been provided this year.
The €100 in new funding in 2021 will be targeted at five key areas: children’s services, day services, community supports, residential services, and integration. The HSE are currently finalising their National Service Plan for 2021 and in this context, the HSE have been asked to examine how these key priorities can be progressed in 2021 within the overall increased envelope of funding for disability services.