There are currently two main non-statutory agencies providing personal assistance services throughout the country, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Centre for Independent Living through its 26 branches nationwide. While the Irish Wheelchair Association has developed this service in partnership with the health boards and is funded by the boards to provide the service on its behalf, historically, the Centre for Independent Living has provided the personal assistant service, using primarily the FÁS community employment scheme and, to a lesser extent, funding provided by the health boards. Between these two agencies it is estimated that currently there are in the region of 510 individuals employed as personal assistants in Ireland providing a service to approximately 379 leaders. This figure does not include the personal assistance services being put in place in 2001-02. Exact information as to the breakdown of personal assistants in each health board area is not available at this time. This information has been requested from the health boards and will be furnished to the Deputy when available.
In relation to funding allocated to the personal assistance service, I would like to advise the Deputy that my policy is to develop the range of services as a whole, in accordance with the amount of funding available, to enable people with physical and sensory disabilities to live as independently as possible. This range of services includes respite care, day care and home support services, which includes home helps, home care attendants and personal assistant services. The provision of a service is most appropriately based on an individual's needs, which may not always be met by a personal assistance service. The amount allocated by an individual health board in any year is decided in the context of local needs and in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services. Voluntary sector service providers and consumers are represented on the co-ordinating committees.
Between 1995 and 1996, a total of £3.31 million ongoing revenue was provided for the maintenance and development of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. This funding was primarily targeted at the development of therapy services, respite services and residential services.