Vol. 465 No. 6
108 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Health the number of disabled persons who availed of the personal assistants' scheme; if he will assure these people that there will not be a reduction in the level of funding available for persons who wish to avail of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10343/96]
Limerick East): The personal assistant scheme currently funded by my Department is for people who participated in the Centre for Independent Living Horizon Pilot Project, INCARE. This two year project ended in December 1994 and I agreed to fund the continuation of this service, on a pilot basis, to the existing participants pending an examination of the whole question of personal assistant services by an advisory group which recently reported. There are currently 24 people with disabilities using this personal assistance service. It is intended to continue the existing level of funding as a minimum pending a decision about the future provision of the service as part of a plan to implement the report of the Review Group on Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities which is examining the full range of services required by people with disabilities.
I am also aware that personal assistance services were provided to seven students who have recently completed a disabilities studies course in the National College of Industrial Relations funded by FÁS and the European Social Fund and that the Centre for Independent Living is involved in the organisation of personal assistance services through the FÁS Community Employment Scheme in fifteen locations nationwide.
