Vol. 455 No. 4
63 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health if he recognises the large number of people with disabilities who would benefit from the availability of an extensive personal assistance service; the plans, if any, he has to support the development of such a service; the support currently given by his Department to personal assistance programmes; the meetings, if any, he has held with outside bodies on this subject; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12355/95]
Limerick East): I established an advisory group in January 1995 to report to me on future policy towards providing and developing a personal assistance service to enable people with physical disabilities to live independently. The group included representatives from my Department and the Departments of Equality and Law Reform, Social Welfare and Education as well as from FÁS, NRB, Eastern Health Board, Centre for Independent Living, Irish Wheelchair Association, Cheshire Foundation and the Rehabilitation Institute. I recently received the report of the advisory group and am considering its recommendations at present.
A scheme to provide personal assistants is being operated by the Centre for Independent Living with assistance from the Eastern Health Board. Almost £300,000 has been set aside for this scheme in 1995.
