Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

On behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, I thank the Deputy for raising the matter on the Adjournment and giving me the opportunity to outline the position concerning this issue. One of the most positive features of the disability services is the strong partnership that now exists between all those involved in the planning and delivery of services. This partnership includes the Government, health boards, voluntary agencies, families and friends, and persons with disabilities themselves. The enhancement of the level of support available to people with disabilities and their families has been and continues to be one of the priorities of the Government. I am pleased that both this Government and the previous one have been in a position to make a significant investment in these services in recent years.

Since 1997, additional funding amounting to €643 million has been invested in health funded support services for people with intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities and those with autism. Some €400 million of this funding was allocated to services for persons with intellectual disability and those with autism. Services to people with intellectual, physical or sensory disabilities and those with autism is one of the limited number of areas in which additional revenue funding has been provided by the Government in any Department in 2003 and 2004.

It is recognised that the health-funded services in this sector have advanced greatly in recent years. It is also acknowledged that further work is required in the coming years. To that end I am pleased that the Government was in a position to announce on budget day a special disability multi-annual funding package with a value of close to €900 million over the years 2006 to 2009. This funding is being dedicated now for the period until 2009 to ensure the delivery of these high priority disability services. This package includes guaranteed additional current spending of almost €600 million. The Government has also agreed to allocate €300 million from the revised capital envelope to these high priority disability services.

The bulk of the new funding package will go to the health sector where it will be invested in services for persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism, services for persons with physical or sensory disabilities and mental health services. It will focus, in particular, on the provision of extra residential, respite and day places, extra home support and personal assistance, and extra places in community-based mental health facilities. Of the €70 million announced by the Tánaiste in the Estimates being made available for disability services and mental health services in 2005, some €40 million is being allocated to services for people with intellectual disability and those with autism to enhance these services further.

With regard to the matter raised by the Deputy, the Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility under the Child Care Act 1991 for child welfare services. While I appreciate the Deputy's interest, which is shared by all Members of the House, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the detail of the topic raised by the Deputy given that the Child Care Act 1991 prohibits the identification of children who are the subject of care proceedings.

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