Vol. 510 No. 5
66 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has received representations from the Independent Living Community Services regarding the establishment of an independent living fund to provide pure personal assistants for those with disabilities; if he will provide financial assistance for this fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19735/99]
The Independent Living Community Services acts as an umbrella body for the Centres for Independent Living, which have branches throughout the country. I presume the Deputy is referring to the establishment of an independent living fund as proposed by the Centre for Independent Living as a means of funding a personal assistance service. This matter has been the subject of many representations to my Department.
The personal assistance service is part of a range of support services for people with physical and sensory disabilities designed to enable them to live in the community with the maximum possible degree of independence. My policy is to develop the range of services as a whole in accordance with the recommendations of the report of the Review Group on Health and Personal Social Services for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, Towards an Independent Future.
To date, this Government has provided a total of £38.162 million for the maintenance and development of services in the sector, including capital developments. Additional revenue funding of £3 million in 1998 and £3 million in 1999, rising to £6 million full year cost in 2000, was provided for the development of these services, including personal support and assistance services.
I have no plans at present to introduce an independent living fund, as proposed by the Centre for Independent Living, as a means of funding the personal assistance service. Priorities for the allocation of development funding are decided by the health boards in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services. Voluntary sector service agencies, including Centres for Independent Living and service users are represented on these committees.
