Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

St. Michael's House received more than €70 million in 2012 in funding from the HSE to provide a range of services to approximately 1,660 children and adults with an intellectual disability in more than 170 centres in the greater Dublin area and in Navan, County Meath.

The HSE and St. Michael's House work in close collaboration in regard to the funding and delivery of services to people with an intellectual disability. As a voluntary agency, St. Michael’s House is obliged to work within the resources available to it and in that regard has introduced significant efficiencies over recent years to remain within budget. The HSE has advised that these changes to date have not resulted in service contraction.

The Haddington Road agreement sets out measures relating to productivity, cost extraction and reform which together intend to achieve a required pay bill reduction of €150 million identified in the HSE Service Plan 2013. The agreement provides a framework and opportunities for managers within the health services, including agencies such as St. Michael's House, to reduce their costs associated with agency and overtime and a wide range of other pay costs, in particular through measures such as additional working hours and revised rates in respect of overtime.

The HSE has advised the Department of Health that the recent application of additional budget cuts under the Haddington Road agreement has presented a significant challenge to St. Michael's House. A process is now underway between the HSE and St. Michael's House to identify the impact of these budget reductions on services. In this respect, I understand that the following are under discussion: St. Michael's House proposal of Sunday closing and revised transport arrangements are under consideration in consultation with those families who may be in a position to accommodate this; the HSE is unaware of any issues concerning respite; appropriate staffing levels and skill mix are under consideration in line with the Haddington Road agreement; and patient charges are being reviewed by St. Michael's House in line with national regulations.

The HSE is working with St. Michael's House and other service providers to fully address the needs of school leavers in 2013 by reconfiguring existing resources. The Department of Health has received assurances from the HSE that both organisations are committed to working within the terms of the Haddington Road Agreement to ensure that services are impacted upon only as a measure of last resort.

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