Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
169
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of persons with disabilities in long-term residential care; the number receiving respite care; the number who have unsuccessfully applied for this care; the number on waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24156/98]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
171
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of respite residential places available for the physically disabled and those with sensory disabilities; the extent of these requirements as outlined and identified by the carers' organisations; his intentions by way of response to these requirements in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24158/98]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:
175
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if he will provide the necessary funding to ensure adequate short, medium and long stay residential places having regard to the fact that many parents of those with disabilities may find themselves due to their age unable to care for their relatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24162/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 169, 171 and 175 together.
The statistical information sought by the Deputy is not routinely gathered by my Department. However, I have asked the health boards to provide this data and I will communicate further with the Deputy when this becomes available.
The report of the review group on health and personal social services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, Towards an Independent Future, published in December 1996, sets out the requirements for the development of services in this sector, including residential and respite care and various home supports for carers. As recommended in the report, regional co-ordinating committees for services to people with physical and sensory disabilities have been put in place in each of the health boards. The committees, which comprise of representatives of the voluntary and statutory agencies and people with disabilities themselves, function in a consultative and advisory capacity to the chief executive officers of the health boards in identifying and prioritising service developments and the allocation of available funding for this purpose.
At the beginning of 1997, the previous Government made available an additional £3.688 million for the maintenance and development of services in this sector. By comparison, this Government, in its first six months in office, allocated £10 million by way of once-off funding to address immediate and pressing problems in the sector namely the provision of aids and appliances and the elimination of deficits of the voluntary agencies providing services. This year a further £8.4 million has been allocated comprising £5.4 million additional revenue and £3 million for capital projects. Of the £5.4 million revenue, £3 million has been specifically earmarked for the development of services in the sector.
Towards an Independent Future recommends the provision of an additional 100 residential places and 200 dedicated respite places for people with disabilities. The £10 million allocated in 1997 included a capital grant of £600,000 to the Irish Wheelchair Association for the development of its national residential respite care centre, "Cuisle", in Roscommon, which provided an additional 60 places for people with physical and sensory disabilities. Of £3 million made available for development of these services this year, over £0.5 million has been allocated by the health boards to the development of respite care facilities. The £3 million allocated for capital projects has been allocated to address the most pressing needs for refurbishment and development of existing facilities including those at day care/day resource centres and residential homes as well providing for aids and appliances.
In relation to services to persons with a mental handicap, the Assessment of Need for Services to Persons with a Mental Handicap 1997-2001, which was published by my Department last year identified a requirement for 1,439 new residential/respite places and 1,036 new day places over the period in question, at a revenue cost of £63.5m. There are also associated capital costs. To this end, I have provided an additional £25 million for the development of these services in the last 12 months or so. I have also put in place a £30m capital programme, which began this year and which will run over four years. The position is that, by the end of this year, over 250 new residential places (when account is taken of the emergency cases) and over 300 day places will have been provided for the mental handicap sector and services will continue to be expanded and enhanced as a result of the allocation of these resources. While the additional residential places do include some respite facilities, further development of specific respite care services has been identified as a priority development. The regional mental handicap co-ordinating committee structure will continue to work at local level to co-ordinate service developments and identify priority needs for the future.
I fully acknowledge the burden of responsibility and the extraordinary commitment of the many carers and families providing care and support for people with physical and sensory disabilities. This has been widely recognised and reported on in the report of the commission on the status of people with disabilities, A Strategy for Equality and the report of the review group on health and personal social services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, Towards an Independent Future.
As set out in An Action Programme for the Millennium, this Government is committed to ensure that the needs and aspirations of people with disabilities, their families, carers and advocates are comprehensively addressed. With regard to the provision of health services for people with physical and sensory disabilities and mental handicap, this commitment comprehends the implementation of the recommendations set out in Towards an Independent Future and progress on the Assessment of Need.
