Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Committee on Disability Matters

Progressing the Delivery of Disability Policy and Services: Discussion (Resumed)

2:00 am

Mr. Bernard Gloster:

On personalised budgets, it has been a lot longer than six years. I remember doing one about 15 years ago. It is a brilliant concept, but it is difficult for us to achieve. Apart from the administrative complexity, we are, by our nature as public services, still coming from a very paternalistic approach in terms of how to care for people. That is not always the best approach, but we do it from the best place. If personalised budgets go wrong, they can equally leave people in a great deal of peril. An evaluation is due by the end of the year. That will inform further choices. I fully agree with the Deputy, but I do not see the pace of it being near what is expected. I will ask Dr. O'Donohue to briefly comment on the alternative respite equine pilots and research.

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