Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 May 2012
646 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the support that he will give to children with intellectual disabilities (details supplied) who are due to finish school next month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25257/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 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.
In relation to the therapy supports outlined in the Deputy's question, these services for adults and children are generally delivered through Primary Care Teams or community therapy services or through specialist disability providers. The HSE has prioritised the development of therapy services in recent years with a range of 484 whole time equivalent multi-disciplinary posts, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology, put in place from 2005 to 2009.
