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Disability Services Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 June 2014

Thursday, 19 June 2014

Ceisteanna (187)

Simon Harris

Ceist:

187. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in fulfilling the commitment in the programme for Government to move some funding in the disability sector towards the area of personal budgets in order that persons with disabilities have greater flexibility in terms of the services they obtain and require and so they are empowered to make decisions appropriate to their own individual life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26446/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Department of Health and the Health Service Executive are pursuing the issue of individualised budgeting in the context of implementing the recommendations in the Value for Money (VFM) and Policy Review of Disability Services in Ireland. The move towards individualised budgeting will also mirror the wider changes in the health sector described in Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service 2012 – 2015, which envisages a migration towards a more person-centred service and a closer alignment between funding and the outcomes.

Individualised budgeting may take many forms, ranging from a method of determining resource allocation to agencies based on assessed client need and actual costs, to a money follows the person model, a brokerage system or a personal budget model administered by the individual service user. Further work is necessary before decisions can be taken on the form or forms which individualised budgeting will take, but the essence of it will be that the individual is given more choice and control over how the money allocated to meet their needs is utilised.

The move towards an individualised budgeting framework raises legal and practical issues, and will require careful consideration and planning. Future Health explains that central to the introduction of individualised budgeting will be suitable financial systems; transparent and comprehensive governance arrangements; a National Standard Needs Assessment framework; underpinning legislation and the introduction of a regulatory system for providers to ensure quality and safety for the recipients of social services.

Demonstration projects are already underway to examine the practical aspects of introducing this major change in the disability sector and to establish the costs and benefits. An analysis of the projects will commence towards the end of 2014 to determine their wider applicability, clarify the issues which must be resolved before the projects can be scaled up, and identify the best way forward. The completion of this analysis is a primary recommendation in the VFM Review and is required for all significant public service expenditure proposals.

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