Billy Kelleher
Ceist:739 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the future of accommodation for 200 persons with disabilities in Cregg House, Sligo. [20251/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 April 2012
Ceisteanna (647)
Freagraí scríofa
Wisdom Services currently provides services to over 200 people with intellectual disability. The HSE contracts for services with Wisdom Services through a service agreement on an annual basis. Service Agreements are used with a range of providers across many services as the means by which the state contracts for services with voluntary or non statutory providers.
Wisdom Services is a voluntary body operated by the Daughters of Wisdom and provides services for people with a disability. It currently has an interim board of governors and an interim executive manager in place. It receives service users from a wide geographical spread. It supports over 200 service users with 111 on campus, 75 in the community and 20 day attendees included respite and shared care options. Wisdom Services is not a limited company so the order has a liability for any deficits. Under the HSE National Service Plan 2012, the disability budget nationally is being reduced by 3.7% in 2012. The NSP states that at least 2% of this should not impact on services and needs to be generated from other savings and increased efficiencies. Despite this additional flexibility, aimed at the most minimal impact on front line services in the first instance, it is most regrettable that Wisdom Services do not appear to be in a position to agree a service level agreement with the HSE for 2012, despite the efforts of the HSE and other stakeholders to achieve this. In this context, the Department of Health is reassured that the HSE and Wisdom Services are working together to ensure that all service users will continue to receive the care and support they require, and that discussions are ongoing in this regard. These discussions are also considering the most appropriate arrangements and funding for the various services delivered by Wisdom Services.