Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Select Committee on Disability Matters
Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 40 - Disability (Supplementary)
2:00 am
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I will deal with some of the questions and Deputy Higgins will deal with the others. The question on personalised budgets struck a chord with me in so far as there is a commitment on it. It is under review and this is being done by the National Disability Authority. It is under way and there is a commitment on it.
We are keen to look at every opportunity for respite care. We have moved away from the notion that there is only one type of respite. People should be entitled to receive respite in the areas of interest to them. In fairness, I acknowledge those who are providing day services. I have visited so many of them that are doing the most extraordinary things. They are meeting the individual interests of people, and whether this is equine therapy, art, music or whatever it happens to be, this is as it should be. We are determined to do more and more in this.
There is a programme of work under way with the HSE on digitalisation. It is to all of our benefit that we would move ahead and drive ahead with this.
I will engage again with the Deputy on the point she made on section 38 and 39 organisations because I fully understand what she envisages there. I will go back to what I said in reply to the previous speaker. We have funding that will support section 38 and 39 organisations to do more. I do not want to take away from the valuable services being provided by others either as they are very important. The most important thing is that those who need the service gets the service, and whoever can provide that service in the shortest space of time, all the better. The capital funding and specific funding we have for residential and respite services will ensure that, more and more, we will be able to support others who are doing it in the voluntary sector.