John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I am being serious. The HSE and voluntary disability service providers are working together to ensure that of the existing resources available for specialist disability, services are used in the most effective manner possible. In the current challenging economic environment, there is a responsibility on all publicly funded services to review the way in which services are delivered and ensure resources are used to maximum effect. This also applies to disability service providers in the non-statutory sector.

The aim should be to ensure that the needs of as many individuals as possible are catered for within the resources available. Voluntary agencies within the disability sector are working with the HSE to ensure plans are in place in each area to respond to the needs of individuals with disabilities in 2009. While this will be challenging in the absence of significant funding for new developments, the voluntary sector and HSE are committed to the best use of available resources in a creative and flexible manner to be as responsive as possible to the needs that present.

On the specific issue of availability of day places, the Department of Health and Children and HSE are aware of the particular needs of school leavers in September 2009. The HSE is reviewing, with service providers, whether capacity exists within current day services to accommodate the needs of some of the individuals in question.

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