Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

I will speak on this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children. The Government is committed to providing a high quality service to all people with a disability. This commitment is illustrated by the substantial investment we have been making in disability services over the last number of years. The national disability strategy, launched in September 2004, reinforces equal participation in society of people with disabilities and provides for a framework of new supports for people with disabilities. This strategy, together with the other support services, is a key factor in building the additional capacity required to ensure that services best meet identified needs.

The strategy builds on a strong equality framework, which is reflected in several equality Acts. It puts the policy of mainstreaming public services for people with disabilities on a clear legal footing. The main elements of the strategy are the Disability Act 2005, the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, the sectoral plans published in 2006 by six Departments, the Citizens Information Act 2007 and the multi-annual investment programme for disability support services for the period 2006 to 2009.

An integral part of the national disability strategy is the multi-annual investment programme announced in the 2005 budget, which provides a commitment to a cumulative capital and revenue programme of €900 million, with the bulk of this funding being spent on health services for people with a disability over the period 2006 to 2009. These commitments include the development of new residential, respite and day places for persons with intellectual disability and autism in each of the years covered by the programme.

With regard to the specific matters raised by Deputy Bruton, I understand from the HSE that St. Michael's House has received an additional €4 million in its 2008 annual funding, which has increased from €78 million in 2007 to €83 million in 2006. In addition, I understand from the HSE that St. Michael's House has been given an indicative allocation of new places across the greater north Dublin area in respect of 2008, as follows——

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