Dáil debates

Thursday, 16 April 2015

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions

Disability Services Funding

9:40 am

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for tabling the question. I am pleased to take this opportunity to outline the current position in regard to the provision of financial support to ChildVision, the national education centre for blind children, Dublin which is an excellent service. It is funded by the HSE under section 39 of the Health Act 2004. Services are provided through a service arrangement which is signed on an annual basis and reviewed regularly. The HSE is committed to working with all voluntary disability service providers, including ChildVision, to ensure that available resources are used to respond to the needs of people with a disability, including blind and visually impaired people.

ChildVision was allocated funding by the HSE of over €4 million in 2014 to provide educational opportunities and support to over 500 blind and partially sighted children and young adults in a safe and nurturing environment. The HSE has held discussions with all voluntary health service providers regarding funding and service arrangements for 2015. The HSE has informed the Department that funding allocated to ChildVision remains at the 2014 level with no reductions planned. I understand that this was relayed to ChildVision recently. As I am sure the Deputy is well aware, the HSE will spend over €1.4 billion this year to provide specialist services and supports to those with disabilities.

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