Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.
Noel Ahern
Ceist:
703
Mr. N. Ahern
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the position regarding the progress achieved under special three year funding for the intellectual disability sector; if the planned numbers of residential and day places have been achieved; if there is a variance or deficit from the plan; if he will provide figures planned and achieved for each health board and for each agency in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area; and the progress made by agency as per (details supplied).
[2862/02]
As a result of the commitment given by the Government in late 1999 to implement an accelerated programme of investment in services to persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism, additional revenue and capital funding of 260.3 million was made available to the services up to the end of 2001.
When allocating additional funding for new services, estimates are made, based on averaged costs, of the number of new residential and day places which might be expected from this funding. However, these figures are subsequently adjusted to take account of the actual number of new places which are provided by the end of the year in question. As the Deputy will appreciate, the cost of providing residential and day places varies, depending on individual client needs. In 2000, 422 new residential and 815 new day places were provided.
The original estimated figures for the services were 555 residential and 700 day places. In 2001, the original estimated figures for these services were 450 residential and 600 day places. While the final figures are currently being checked with the health boards, it would appear that between 395 and 400 new residential and 700 new day places will have been provided in 2001. In addition to the new residential and day places mentioned, the additional funding allocated to the services over the last two years also provided for: a significant investment in the respite services; an enhanced level of support for those already in receipt of some level of residential, day, respite or other support services; the enhancement of health related support services to children with an intellectual disability and those with autism; the continuation of the programme to transfer persons with an intellectual disability or autism from psychiatric hospitals or other inappropriate placements; the development of specialist support services for those who require a more intensive level of support; and identified needs in existing services.
Further additional revenue and capital funding amounting to 51.525 million has been provided in 2002 to build on the developments which have taken place over the last number of years. This funding will provide over 100 new residential places and 600 day places, in addition to a range of other enhanced support services and will also meet some identified needs in existing services.
In relation to the information concerning the breakdown by area health board and agency within the Eastern Regional Health Authority, I have asked the authority to reply directly to the Deputy with this information.
In April 1999, information from the national intellectual disability database indicated that in the period 2000 to 2004, 1,677 new residential and 912 new day places were required to meet the identified needs for these services. It should be noted that in addition to the day places required to meet the needs of those awaiting placement in the services as mentioned above, the additional funding also provided for those requiring a change in day services. For example, young people leaving school and requiring rehabilitative training places or those moving from rehabilitative training to other areas of the services such as sheltered work, activation or services for older people. My Department is reviewing on an ongoing basis the position in relation to the implementation of this development programme with the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards.
Information will be available shortly from the national intellectual disability database in relation to the level of service provision and identified need as of 30 May 2001. This will reflect the impact of the 2000 development programme, which will also assist my Department in this matter. The national monitoring committee, which is representative of my Department, the health research board, the chief executives of the health boards, the national federation of voluntary bodies providing services to people with intellectual disability, the national parents and siblings alliance and the National Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland, NAMHI, is also involved in the monitoring of this programme.
The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot at this stage give specific commitments in relation to levels of expenditure in 2003 for any particular service area as these matters will be decided as part of the discussions on the Estimates and budget for that year between my Department and the Department of Finance. However, I assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to fulfilling the commitment which it gave in relation to meeting the needs of this population group.
