Michael Ring
Ceist:345 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when funding will be sanctioned to complete implementation of the recommendations contained in the report, Towards an Independent Future. [9776/99]
Written Answers. - Implementation of Report.
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, sets out the requirements for the development of these services over a five-year period and estimated the cost at £50 million over the period.
At the beginning of 1997, the previous Government made available an additional £3.688 million revenue for the maintenance and development of the services. After taking office, this Government provided £10 million by way of additional funding before the end of 1997. This was allocated to agencies in the voluntary sector providing services to people with physical and sensory disabilities for the provision of aids and appliances, to assist capital projects and for the elimination of accumulated funding deficits. In 1998 a total of £13.262 million was provided for the maintenance and development of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. Of this £5.4 million revenue was allocated for the maintenance and development of the services and a total of £5 million was made available for the provision of aids, appliances and other equipment, In 1999 a total of £13.4 million is being provided for these services, of which £9.4 million (£12.4 million full year cost in the year 2000) is for the maintenance and development of the services. Accordingly, since the report of the review group on health and personal social services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, Towards an Independent Future was published, a total of £40.35 million additional funding has been invested in services for people with physical and sensory disabilities.
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, this commitment includes the implementation of the recommendations in the report, Towards an Independent Future. The substantial additional funding made available to date by the Government is evidence of this commitment.