Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2022
750. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the details of the transport supports or funding that are available for disabled adults attending disability day services or rehabilitation training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22865/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraNew funding is provided annually by the Department of Health to the HSE to provide appropriate services and supports to young people with disabilities who will require continuing health-funded supports on leaving school or rehabilitative training each year.
In Budget 2022, approximately €14.4m has been allocated by the Department of Health to provide day service supports to the 1,700 young people with disabilities leaving school and training programmes next year.
This dedicated annual funding stream for school leavers has been in place since 2015, however this funding does not cover transport costs and is wholly for the provision of disability services, as transport is not a core health service.
Some transport supports are provided by the HSE or funded agencies on a discretionary basis, and a variety of transport solutions are pursued in different CHO areas, including travel training, local transport, and some service providers provide transport, where capacity exists.
I also note that in general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass.
There have been many improvements in access to a range of transport supports available to persons with disabilities in the State, for example the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers scheme, and CLÁR funding to voluntary organisations providing transport for people with significant mobility issues.
I was also pleased to announce in December 2021 a once off allocation of €10m covering the areas of assistive technology and transport, which will facilitate the upgrading of service provider buses. This followed on from €7.5m that the HSE utilised to help upgrade transport for Day Services recently.
