In 2011, €10 Million was allocated to address the demography pressures. The funding addressed service provision under the following headings- day places, residential, respite, and personal assistance hours. The funding was allocated across the 4 HSE Regions based on the percentage of population as outlined in the table:
Region
|
Funding €
|
Day Places
|
Residential Places
|
Residential Enhanced Places
|
Personal Assist Hours
|
Respite Places
|
Respite Centre Places
|
DML
|
2.838m
|
158
|
6
|
—
|
7,339
|
—
|
—
|
DNE
|
2.272m
|
141.37
|
2
|
3
|
—
|
—
|
3
|
South
|
2.559m
|
82.92
|
9.26
|
3.35
|
8,277
|
3.34
|
3.36
|
West
|
2.331m
|
132
|
6.27
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Total
|
10m
|
514.29
|
23.53
|
6.35
|
15,616
|
3.34
|
6.36
|
The demand for services for school-leavers continues to grow. There will be around 700 school-leavers in 2012, many of whom will require supports and services. (This figure may reduce as individuals decide not to avail of a day placement, stay in school, or are accepted to FÁS courses).
This year disability service providers are required to cater for demographic pressures, such as new services for school-leavers and emergency residential placements, from within their existing budgets. Service providers and the HSE have come together under the auspices of National Consultative Forum to identify how the needs of individuals who require day and rehabilitative training places can be responded to within available resources.
The National Consultative Forum recognises that the key to ensuring that available resources for people with disabilities are used to best effect is through constructive collaboration between non-statutory providers and the HSE. There are already many excellent examples of collaborative working between providers and the HSE in innovatively responding to the needs of individuals.