Vol. 555 No. 5
289 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he receives reports on the adequacy of service levels in residential institutions catering for children with an intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of services at a location (details supplied) where parents contend that the standard of support services fall well below the needed standard due to shortage of funds. [19002/02]
In addition to the development of new or enhanced service provision, my Department has been working with the health boards and voluntary service providers in recent years to meet specific identified needs in existing services. These primarily relate to the changing profile of the population in these services and in particular increased dependency levels due to ageing, medical frailty or challenging behaviour. The mechanism used is that following a review process, agreement is reached with the agency and the relevant health board in relation to the identified level of need.
In relation to the agency mentioned by the Deputy, additional funding was provided in recent years in respect of around 39 posts which were identified as a result of a review of the services in 1998. A further review is being undertaken. Any recommendations arising from that review will be discussed in the first instance with the relevant health board, in this case the North-Eastern Health Board.
290 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if funding put in place under the intellectual disability budget will continue; if reductions in funding will be made; if he will target the most vulnerable sections of society in allocating funding to reduce the waiting lists for day respite and residential services being undertaken by Meath Sheltered Workshops, directly as a result of funding provided under the intellectual disability budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19014/02]
Significant additional funding has been made available in recent years to expand the level of support services available to persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism. Further additional revenue funding amounting to €25 million was provided in 2002 for the development of new services, with €1.964 million allocated to the North-Eastern Health Board. This funding is now part of the ongoing base funding for the services, including agencies such as that mentioned by the Deputy.
The additional funding provided in recent years has been targeted at the enhancement of the level of residential, respite and day supports available to this population group. Decisions in relation to the precise details of the services to be provided from any additional funding, including which service provider should be responsible for their delivery and the individuals who will benefit from those services, are a matter for the relevant health board in agreement with the regional consultative and development committees.
I cannot at this stage give specific commitments on levels of expenditure in 2003 for any service area as these matters are part of the ongoing discussions on the Estimates and budget for that year between my Department and the Department of Finance. I assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to the ongoing development of services to persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism as outlined in the programme for Government.
