Ms Yvonne O'Neill:

Under the demonstrator model, 180 people are participating in the personalised budget across the nine CHOs. As far as I am aware, the report on the demonstration project is due before the end of this year. Mr. O'Regan would have probably been able to give a better response on this so I apologise that he was unable to attend. We can come back to the committee with an update note on the project. Ms Hanley may be able to speak about this as a few people in her area are participating in it.

Some of the preliminary findings include some of the complexities Deputy Tully has identified that are emerging from the initial analysis. It does not suit everyone. Some people who participated are saying that they need some kind of hybrid response as they feel they have taken on too much responsibility. That idea that has been referenced by the other contributors is important, namely how to ensure we have the right offering where some organisations can offer the right support to enable people to have a PA and-or personalised budget and do not have to take on all the roles and responsibilities of employment directly. I will revert with an update on that. There are 180 participants and as far as I am aware the report on that demonstration project is due before the end of this year.