Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Martin is aware there is a formal appeals process open to any organisation that experiences a cut in funding. The Government, across all Departments, takes the disability sector very seriously and currently provides almost €5 billion to disability services across different sectors. Some €1.4 billion of this is provided for health and personal social services through the Health Service Executive's national service plan for 2014. Particular residential services are provided for 9,000 people by 60 agencies in 1,200 different locations and these range from small to large community group homes that support independent living. Day services are provided by 80 organisations to 22,000 people living with intellectual, physical or sensory challenges or autism at 850 different locations around the country. There are now 6,000 people with intellectual or physical disabilities availing of respite residential support and some 3.7 million hours of home support are provided by personal assistants.

Other services provided under the disability services programme include respite, early childhood family support, community-based medical, nursing and therapy services and rehabilitative training aids and appliances. Most disability services are now provided by the voluntary sector.As I said in last week's statement of Government priorities, the Tánaiste and I have committed to implementing the report of the value for money and policy review of the disability services programme. This will revolutionise how the State interacts with people with disabilities and will mean a whole new model of personalised, community-based service providing greater choice for people with disabilities. This means the disability service will be restructured by linking budgets to activity, quality and outcomes for service users. These are important developments in difficult financial circumstances and they indicate the Government's commitment to improving quality of life for people with disabilities and to allocating resources based on personal needs. We are adamant that public services for people with disabilities must be as effective and responsive as possible.

A formal independent appeals process is open to any organisation that has seen a reduction in funding and I suggest this is the route to follow.

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