Conor Lenihan
Ceist:283 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the disparities within health board areas with regard to the availability of services for the disabled. [22738/98]
Written Answers. - Services for the Disabled.
Conor Lenihan
Ceist:286 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the standardisation of funding for aids and appliances for the disabled throughout the health boards. [22742/98]
Conor Lenihan
Ceist:287 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the standardisation of support available for personal assistance services for the disabled throughout all health board areas. [22746/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 283, 286 and 287 together.
Service needs vary from one area to another. The report of the Review Group on Health and Personal Social Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, Towards an Independent Future, which was published in December 1996, recommended the establishment of regional co-ordinating committees for services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. The functions of these committees are,inter alia, to advise the chief executive officers of the health boards in relation to the identification and prioritising of service needs locally and on the priorities for the allocation of funds available for the development of the services.
The agreement of standard criteria to be used by health boards in assessing applications for services is a matter which will continue to be pursued with the health boards by officials of my Department as part of the implementation of the recommendations of the review group.