Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 May 2022
246. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health if he will provide access to a personal assistant service as a legislative right for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23555/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe right to a Personal Assistant service is covered under Article 19 of the UNCRPD and is under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, who declined this question on transfer.
The Government is working to ensure that People with Disabilities be allowed to live an independent life of their own choosing, the same as any other person, and this is consistent with the disability reform policy - “transforming lives”.
The HSE provides a range of assisted living services including Personal Assistant (PA) services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives.
Personal Assistance Services are accessed through an application process or through referrals from public health nurses or other community based staff. Individual’s needs are evaluated against the criteria for prioritisation for the particular services and then decisions are made in relation to the allocation of resources.
Resource allocation is determined by the needs of the individual, compliance with prioritisation criteria, and the level of resources available. PA Services are provided either directly by the HSE or through a range of voluntary service providers. The majority of specialised disability provision (80%) is delivered through non-statutory sector service providers.
Significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services, and the Government has ensured that an additional €105 million is being provided for new disability measures this year under Budget 2022. These measures will include 120,000 additional hours of Personal Assistance supports to expand and enhance supports for people to live self-directed lives in their own communities.
The 2022 National Service Plan outlines the HSE’s commitment to deliver 1.7m hours of Personal Assistance hours to 2,587 people.
