Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015
537. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if his Department or the Health Service Executive has considered, or would consider in the future, providing respite services for persons with intellectual disabilities directly, rather than subcontracting the service out to private companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14317/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra538. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the measures that are in place to ensure fairness in the system of allocating respite services contracts to external service providers, and that contracts are allocated on the basis of quality of service rather than longevity of the relationships with the service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14318/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra539. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the number of respite hours sanctioned in County Wexford in the years 2012 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14319/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 537 to 539, inclusive, together.
Respite care for children and adults with disabilities is provided by the HSE directly in some instances, or by agencies funded by the HSE to provide services on its behalf. In many instances respite services are part of the overall suite of services provided by voluntary service providers to people with disabilities under their service level agreements with the HSE. The HSE remains committed to working with all voluntary disability service providers to ensure that all of the resources available for specialist disability services, including respite services, are used in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
The HSE’s Social Care Operational Plan for 2015 aims to provide 190,000 overnight stays in centre-based respite services to almost 5,300 people. The HSE is also committed to continuing to explore methods of community respite care as an alternative to centre-based respite care, including advancing the Host Family Support Model.
Agencies which provide centre-based respite care are subject to inspection by HIQA under the Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for Persons (Children And Adults) With Disabilities) Regulations 2013, Health Act 2007 (Registration of Designated Centres for Persons (Children and Adults) with Disabilities) Regulations 2013 and the National Standards for Residential Services for Children and Adults with Disabilities.
Compliance with HIQA standards is a requirement under the Service Level Arrangements (SLA) between the HSE and voluntary service providers in the disability sector, including providers of respite services. The introduction of registration and inspection represents a significant advance in terms of delivering consistent and high quality services for people with disabilities in centre-based respite services.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with the HSE.
