Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 January 2023
298. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health his response to the shortfalls identified in the ESRI Research Bulletin Personal Assistance Services in Ireland: A Capability Approach to Understanding the Lived Experience of Disabled People, published on 2 December 2022. [2462/23]
View answerAs Minister of State for Disabilities, I welcomed the publication of this ESRI report when it was launched in December. I know this report will be invaluable in informing the planned HSE Working Group on improving Personal Assistance Services.
The report demonstrates that service users are seeking more flexible, individualised supports. I strongly believe that this flexibility must be built in to services as this is one of the ways in which we can ensure that people with disabilities are enabled to live their lives the way they chose .
This Government and the HSE are committed to protecting the level of Personal Assistance Services available to persons with disabilities to live an independent life of their own design, in line with the disability reform policy - “Transforming Lives”. The HSE has consistently, year on year, increased the number of hours of PA Services delivered to people with a disability.
The HSE provides a range of assisted living services including Personal Assistance Services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives. In 2022, the HSE target was to deliver 1.7m hours of PA services to over 2,500 people. While the final end of year figure will be published shortly, every indication is that this target will be met.
