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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 4

Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

394 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will introduce a Supplementary Estimate to meet the commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to support services for the physical and sensory disability sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8869/02]

I would like to thank the Deputy for this opportunity to clarify the Government's commitment to the provision of health-related services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. Since coming into office, additional funding of just over €175 million has been provided by this Government for the maintenance and development of health-related services for people with physical and sensory disabilities. This year, additional funding of just under €40 million has been provided for this purpose. This includes: €15.29 million provided for existing services and the full year cost of 2001 development programme; €7.56 million for the development of services, including therapy and home support services; €6.411 million towards the under-resourcing of the voluntary sector; €1.27 million for the transfer of the FÁS CE scheme; €9.322 million for capital projects under the national development plan.

In line with the recommendations of the report of the review group on health and personal social services for people with physical and sensory dis abilities, priorities for the allocation of funding available for the development of services are decided by the health boards in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services. Voluntary sector service providers and consumers are represented on these committees. My Department, in conjunction with the Health Research Board, the health boards and the voluntary sector, is also developing the national physical and sensory disability database, which I recently launched. When complete, the database will enable quality services to be provided to people with physical and sensory disabilities in an efficient and co-ordinated manner.
This programme of substantial investment over recent years emphasises the Government's commitment to the ongoing development of quality health services to people with physical and sensory disabilities and is in line with the commitments given in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
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