Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 December 2022
68. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the progress that he has made in delivering on the commitment in the programme for Government to deliver further personal assistance hours to persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57249/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE provides a range of assisted living services including Personal Assistance (PA) Services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives.
The National Service Plan 2022 outlines the HSE’s commitment to deliver 1.7m hours of PA services to 2,587 people this year. The HSE expects that this target will be met by year end.
This target reflects an additional 120,000 hours of PA services in 2022 to expand and enhance supports for people to live self-directed lives in their own communities.
The Government and the HSE are committed to protecting the level of PA Services available to persons with disabilities. The Government is working to ensure that people with disabilities are enabled to live an independent life of their own choosing, like any other person, in line with the disability reform policy - “transforming lives”.
The HSE has consistently, year on year, increased the number of hours of PA Services delivered to people with a disability (please see table in attachment).
