Written Answers Nos. 953-967
953. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of a full-time residential care application by the family of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36022/23]
View answerAs this relates to a service matter, I am referring it to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.
954. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what plans are underway to ensure the reopening of a respite service (details supplied) in north Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36169/23]
View answerAs the query refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
955. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will give due consideration to allocating funding to enable the estimated 1,200 people aged under 65 years who are currently living in a nursing home to access more appropriate housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36175/23]
View answerPublished in May 2021, the Ombudsman's Wasted Lives: Time for a better future for younger people in Nursing Homes looked at the appropriateness of the placement of people under the age of 65 in nursing homes.
It is recognised that nursing homes can, at times, be appropriate care options where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement that cannot be supported in the person’s home.
Nonetheless, for many people under the age of 65, nursing homes are not an appropriate setting, and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.
There is a clear Government commitment to reduce and provide a pathway to eliminate the practice of inappropriately accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes and to facilitate where appropriate, people under 65 who wish to live elsewhere.
In 2023, Specialist Community-Based Disability Services received funding of c. €2.6 billion to provide a range of services and is spent in line with nationally agreed policy for disability services. Services include Residential and Respite Services, Day Services, PA and Home Support Services, and Therapeutic Supports.
In 2021 this Government provided for a Pilot Scheme as part of the HSE National Service Plan (NSP)
to enable 18 people, with an investment of €3 million, under the age of 65 years to move from nursing homes to move to more appropriate homes in the community. To end 2021, 14 had moved into the community.
Budget 2022 provided a further allocation of €5.5 million (part-year funding) to address the situation of people with disabilities who may be inappropriately placed in nursing homes, thus commencing the move of a further cohort of individuals. In 2022, 22 transitions took place.
The HSE advises that as of May 2023, 17 individuals have moved from nursing homes to more appropriate homes in the community. The transitions to the community have been to own home (adapted), family home (adapted), new council house (adapted) and specialised residential services.
In addition to supporting individuals who wish to transition into the community, the HSE is also funding enhanced quality of life supports for individuals who through either will and preference and/or assessment of need will be continuing their placement in the Nursing Home. For these individuals, the aim of these supports is, to improve the daily life of these younger people, while they are still in a nursing home or to help them prepare for a future transition. By end April 2023, 37 individuals have received additional enhanced quality of life supports, while they are currently continuing their placement in a Nursing Home.
The availability of appropriate housing, challenges in recruiting care staff and clinical staff and have been cited as barriers to successful transitions. The HSE is identifying different actions to mitigate against these barriers.
The National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022 – 2027 sets out the Government’s vision for delivering housing and related supports for disabled people. The overarching vision of the Strategy is to facilitate people with disabilities to live independently and to have their housing needs met in the community. Officials in my Department provided input into the strategy.
956. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 305 of 23 March 2023, if the process of developing a workforce plan for children's disability network teams has been completed; if so, the details of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36248/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
957. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 735 of 31 January 2023, the number of children's disability network teams that have been provided with the national information management system to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36249/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
958. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of email correspondence received by his office on 14 July 2023 from an organisation (details supplied); if he will address the concerns raised regarding a two-tier system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36413/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that officials from my Department are engaging with the HSE to establish the facts around the issue raised. A response from the HSE is awaited and, following same, a full response will issue to the Deputy.
959. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications received for respite care in 2022 and to date in 2023; the number of people currently on the waiting list for respite care services, broken down by county and waiting list timeframe, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36722/23]
View answerAs the query refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
960. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who are on the waiting list for an appointment for early intervention services for speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and psychology, in tabular form, broken down by waiting list timeframes of less than 3 months; 3-6 months, 6-12 months, and more than 12 months, for CHO6 Wicklow and CHO7 west Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36725/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
961. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many children were waiting for an assessment of need in Wicklow in 2022 and to June 2023 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36743/23]
View answer962. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of assessments of need that were carried out by the HSE on children with disabilities in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 in Wicklow, broken down by month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36744/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 961 and 962 together.
As this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
963. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the status of a facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36800/23]
View answerThe Department has not contracted Ridge House in Ballybrack. A proposal has been submitted and the Department is awaiting a full suite of supporting documentation to be supplied before it can evaluate the property for use as an accommodation centre.
A detailed assessment must take place before any property can be deemed suitable as accommodation for international protection applicants.
Before the opening of any facility the Department endeavours to engage with local representatives to provide information as soon as possible once the property has fulfilled all of the assessment criteria and terms are agreed.
964. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of personal assistant hours funded in 2022 and 2023; how many people are currently supported; how many have applied but who have not yet been granted support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37092/23]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
965. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status and outcome of the review into the disabled drivers' scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37110/23]
View answerThe issue of mobility supports for people with disabilities is a key priority for me as Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability.
In furtherance of Action 104 of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, a Transport Working Group was established in 2020 by the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group to formulate proposals on how transport supports could be better coordinated across the state. I chaired the work of the Transport Working Group from January 2022. The Final Report of the Group was published earlier this year and is available on my Department’s website. The Group considered the Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme in the context of looking at the broader issue of transport supports for disabled people in the round. As such it was not a dedicated and specific review of that single scheme. However, the Department of Finance did convene a Criteria Sub-Group to gather information on the experiences, perspectives and expertise of those most involved with the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme to specifically inform the work of the NDIS Group.
The recommendations of the NDIS Working Group are under active consideration across departments and agencies with responsibility for the wide range of current and historic transport supports for persons with disabilities. The Department of the Taoiseach has convened a Senior Officials Group (SOG) to discuss how the proposals of the NDIS TWG final report can be progressed. A first meeting was held on 3 July 2023. My officials are engaging and actively contributing to discussions on this matter. However, it will be a matter for the SOG and for Government to determine any time lines or next steps as may be decided.
The Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passenger Scheme, specifically, is the responsibility of the Department of Finance, and it is administered by the Revenue Commissioners. Any questions on the specific operation of that Scheme are therefore best addressed to my colleagues.
966. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide the operating protocol for the processing and completion of assessment of need under section 8 of the Disability Act 2005 and service statements under section 11 of the Disability Act 2005; whether this system operates on a strict chronological basis upon receipt of application; and whether applications accompanied by a solicitor's letter are completed with priority. [37111/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
967. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is satisfied that the hotel the staff of an accommodation centre (details suppled) are living and working in has the required fire certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35592/23]
View answer968. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the service provider for an accommodation centre (details supplied) provided a valid and correct fire certificate to IPAS in order to get awarded the initial contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35593/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 967 and 968 together.
With all new properties contracted by my Department to provide accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs), the provider is required to provide detailed information in relation to suitability for use, including valid fire certification. The Department carefully appraises each property before contracts are issued and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections.
The International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) has been in contact with both the provider and Clare County Council with regards to the validity of the fire certification received.
It has been confirmed by the Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer in Clare County Council that the fire certificate received by my officials for Magowna House is authentic.
