Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2012
14 Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he has quantified the level of reduction in day services, residential and respite services as a result of cuts to the budget for disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8333/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra48 Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he and the Health Service Executive have carried out an assessment of the likely impact on disabled persons of the cuts to spending on disability services in the HSE national service plan 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8332/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 48 together.
The recently approved HSE National Service Plan 2012 outlines, as required in legislation, the type and volume of services to be provided this year in return for the resources made available by the Oireachtas. The Plan acknowledges that there will be an inevitable and unavoidable reduction in services this year because of the scale of the financial and staffing challenge facing the health service. However, it also outlines the various actions that will be taken to mitigate as far as possible the impact which the budget and staff cuts would otherwise have on services. In particular, the Plan avoids crude across the board cuts in budgets and makes it clear that reductions in budgets should not lead to a corresponding reduction in services. Instead, we need to accelerate the Government's health reform programme and prioritise our services in a way that supports those in greatest need.
In the case of disability services, the Plan provides for a 3.7% reduction in budgets but makes it clear that there is scope for achieving efficiencies of 2% or more through measures such as consolidation and rationalisation of back office costs. All providers will be expected to achieve some efficiency savings but the level of savings required will vary depending on the profile of the service provider, efficiency savings achieved to date and the scope for further savings. The HSE will work closely with the Department in finalising the allocations. Some reductions in day services, residential and respite services will be unavoidable even with such efficiencies. The aim will be to tailor such reductions to minimise the impact on service users and families as much as possible.
