Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue for discussion. There are currently serious deficiencies in the services available in the Ballinasloe area for people with developmental and learning disabilities ranging in age from the very young to the over sixties. In many cases their parents and carers are getting older and cannot continue to carry the can on behalf of the State, which has failed in its responsibility to provide much needed services.

In 2005 the Brothers of Charity Galway Services, which provides services in the Ballinasloe area, had a funding deficit of €1.8 million. The deficit was a direct consequence of the need to put in place additional staff to meet emergency situations which arose over the year.

One example of the type of emergency case which had to be dealt with is that of Michael, a young man in seven-day, 24-hour residential accommodation which he shares with four young adults, each of whom has a severe intellectual disability. During the past year Michael went through an extremely difficult period of challenging behaviour, with the result that it was necessary for the safety of Michael, the other young adults with whom he shared his accommodation and the staff to move him to accommodation on his own and provide him with 24-hour wraparound staffing. This successfully addressed the issue in Michael's case. However, the full cost to the service was €280,000 per year, a cost which was entered into with the clear understanding of the HSE western region.

While everybody fully expects emergencies to arise in the course of each year and the Brothers of Charity can cope with approximately three or four such emergencies per year, in the past eighteen months they have had to deal with approximately 17 such emergency cases, which has led to a €1.8 million funding deficit. The Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children are fully aware of the situation, yet the Brothers of Charity received additional funding for these emergency cases amounting to only €300,000. This is a full €1.5 million short of the actual cost, which has had a direct impact on day-to-day services for other clients. I call on the Minister for Health and Children to make immediately available the additional resources required for these emergency services, to provide the €1.5 million to cover the 2005 overspend and to address the current service deficits in theBallinasloe area.

These deficiencies are not just confined to one age group or segment but are evident across the board, as is clear from the following examples. In-home support provides a flexible respite service for families within their own homes. A number of families are on a waiting list for this service but at present it does not extend to adults due to the limited budget available. If the budget for the children's respite service based at Ashtree House was increased, it could offer the service to more children within the area who are on a waiting list. There is currently a waiting list tor the adult respite service, which is funded on part-time basis at present. If funding was made available, the half-time posts could be made full-time and it would be possible to offer a more comprehensive service and would ensure that the Brothers of Charity are in a position to respond to crises.

The residential service requires funding to be made available so that the five-day service could be extended to a seven-day residential placement to meet the needs of residential clients. The elderly programme requires extra funding for a full-time care assistant. With regard to the Springfield child development centre, if extra resources were allocated and staffing hours increased, it would be possible to bring additional children into the service and increase the number of days children avail of facilities in the centre.

These are basic funding needs in the Ballinasloe area. The services cannot be developed, first, as there is a deficit of €1.5 million from the budget for 2005; second, as the deficit is not being funded in 2006; and third, as additional funds are needed to develop these services into the future.

The Brothers of Charity provide an excellent service in Ballinasloe. They have traditionally provided that service not only to the children of east County Galway but also to the children of south County Roscommon. I implore the Minister to review this situation and ensure that the basic funding is provided. Elderly parents in these communities have provided the services for their children for many years. They want the State to assume its responsibilities and provide adequate funding for these services.

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