Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 September 2023
242. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if multi-annual funding for disability organisations that are delivering vital services on behalf of the HSE and the State will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40816/23]
View answerIn recent years, significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services. Building on the previous year, an unprecedented level of funding of €2.6bn for Disability services has been allocated for 2023. This follows substantial increases in the budget in 2021 and 2022; and reflects this Government’s commitment to strengthening the funding provided for the disability sector and working to act to address the shortfalls identified in the Disability Capacity Review.
Unlike the position for capital expenditure, where multi annual commitments are made within the National Development Plan, the Estimates process for current expenditure allocates funding on an annual (single- year) basis and no formal mechanism currently exists to provide funding on a multi-annual basis to providers.
In order to address the capacity deficits identified in the Disability Capacity Review to 2032, in July 2023, Government approved the Disability Action Plan 2024-2026. In line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the Action Plan represents a key step in the expansion and reform of specialist community-based disability services including respite and residential services. The Action Plan is now being prepared for publication, including in accessible formats, and will be available in the coming weeks.
