Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
1045. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the mechanisms in place to collect and examine data regarding rates of access to healthcare services by persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16962/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
In relation to health needs, HSE Disability Services provide personal and social supports based on the needs of the individual, rather than the provision of services based on a specific diagnosis or condition.
The National Ability Supports System (NASS) captures information about the use and need for disability-funded services. NASS is managed by the National Health Information Systems Unit of the Health Research Board (HRB) on behalf of the Department of Health.
The purpose of NASS is to gather service user information to aid the planning, development and organisation of HSE-funded disability services.
All individuals who receive or require a disability-funded service due to an intellectual disability, or a persistent physical, sensory, neurological, learning, autism spectrum, and/or speech/language disability arising from disease, disorder or trauma, should be registered on NASS.
NASS captures data on service users who are in receipt of, or who require, services funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE) which are related to their disability. Certain services funded by Government departments such as Education and Social Protection may also be captured to forecast a future requirement for disability-funded services.
Information collected on NASS will be critical to the management of disability services nationally and in ensuring the HSE understand the quantum of existing service usage and future service demand in order to plan for the provision of services to meet future needs of people with intellectual and physical and sensory disability.
Further details about NASS can be found on the website of the Health Research Board; https://www.hrb.ie/data-collections-evidence/disability-service-use-and-need/
The Department of Health has no direct function in relation to the provision of health and personal social services to individuals. The Department is responsible for the formulation and development of policy in respect of the provision of healthcare and support services; responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services rests with the Health Service Executive (HSE).
In this regard, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
