Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
1427. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the status of the running of the demonstration projects or pilot programmes for personal budgets following the €1.3 million funding provided in 2019; if a decision has been made to roll out the programme on a broader scale including children following the pilot programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32856/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI launched the report of the Task Force on Personalised Budgets in July 2018. The report sets out how personalised budgets could work as a funding mechanism for people with a disability, providing them with greater choice and control over the services and supports they receive.
The HSE is currently developing a number of pilot demonstration projects which will be rolled out shortly across each of the Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs). The pilot demonstration projects will test models of personalised budgets and will evaluate service user experiences and costs differences. These projects will be designed to test the system of personalised budgets and how they might work.
The remit of the Task Force was to look at services for adults funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE) Disability Services. The evidence from other countries is very clear that introducing personalised budgets is a significant challenge that requires careful planning and groundwork and therefore pilot demonstration projects will test the various models and governance structures in the first instance. An evaluation will be conducted for the duration of the pilot demonstration projects and its outcome will inform Government consideration on the wider application of this funding model.
