Debate resumed on amendment No. 1: To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:“values the role which people with disabilities play in Irish society and is committed to facilitating the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the life of the community through access to individualised personal social supports and services; recognises the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the quality of life of people with disabilities is enhanced and that resources are allocated on the basis of need; affirms the Government’s commitment to the provision of effective and responsive public services for people with disabilities; notes that the Government spends almost €5 billion annually on disability services and income supports (in addition to expenditure of over €1 billion on income supports for illness and invalidity); and the health service alone will spend €1.4 billion in 2014 on health and social services for people with disabilities, including:— residential services to over 9,000 people with a disability; — day services to over 22,000 people with intellectual, physical or sensory disabilities and autism; — respite residential support for nearly 6,000 people with disabilities; and — 1.68 million hours of personal assistant/home support hours; notes that additional funding of €14 million has been provided to address priority needs within disability services identified by the Minister for Health and advised to the Health Service Executive, including: — €7 million for additional places for school-leavers and rehabilitative training graduates; — €3 million for emergency residential placements; and — €4 million to support the development of services for children with disabilities under the National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People; acknowledges the key Programme for Government commitments and recognises the progress to date in implementing them, particularly in: — the publication of an implementation plan for the National Disability Strategy; — the publication of the Value for Money and Policy Review of the Disability Services in Ireland which lays the foundations for a person-centred supports model which will allow people to exercise greater choice and control, enabling them to live fully inclusive, active and independent lives within the community; and — the introduction of independent inspections for residential services for people with disabilities; acknowledges the range of income and work-related supports provided by the Department of Social Protection for people with disabilities, and notes that: — expenditure on the Illness, Disability and Carers programme is estimated to be €3.33 billion in 2014, which represents 17 per cent of total Departmental expenditure; — the purpose of the Illness, Disability and Carers programme is to provide an income for persons in the event of short and long term illness or disability and to support the valuable service provided by their care givers; and — social transfers, such as Disability Allowance, help to support people to participate in society in a positive way and prevent poverty for those with serious illnesses and disabilities; recognises the central role which work plays in the lives of people with disabilities and is committed to the development of a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities, which will be published this year, as set out in the Action Plan for Jobs 2014; notes that the Department of Education and Skills spends approximately €1.3 billion, or 15 per cent of its entire budget, in support of children and young persons with disabilities and Special Educational Needs and, despite the significant economic challenges of recent years, has continued to protect this investment; and recognises that the Department of Education and Skills is focused on ensuring that all children can have access to an education appropriate to their needs.”- (Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch)

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