Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 April 2025
140. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will report on the proportion of the Department’s budget that is allocated to private service providers in the disability sector; and if she believes the outsourcing of vital care to for-profit entities is in the best interest of children and families. [21012/25]
View answerWhile my Department sets the strategy, policy direction and the overall allocation for the disability sector, funding allocations to individual service providers is an operational matter for the HSE as the funding authority.
In 2024, the department provided an overall allocation of €3 billion to the HSE for specialist community-based disability services, which it delivers directly or via Section 38 and Section 39 organisations, and For Profit companies. Of the €3 billion allocated in 2024 €262 million or 8.6% was allocated to 86 For Profit companies.
In line with appropriate procurement procedures, Garda vetting and due diligence practice, private providers are sometimes contracted by the HSE to provide Disability services. For example, the HSE provides funding to private providers for the provision of Assessments of Needs to address waiting lists which have arisen due to a number of factors including growth in demand for Assessments of Need, significant staffing vacancies within Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs), and growth in numbers of children with complex needs as a result of their disability.
The HSE ensures that these contracted providers are appropriately qualified and that any assessments or interventions are provided in line with the Disability Act legislation, HSE SOP and the iHIQA standards.
