Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Broughan for raising this important issue. I am pleased to outline the position on services for young people with disabilities who need continuing support from the health service on leaving school, including young people with autism in Dublin Bay North and Fingal.

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide them with greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports to meet their needs and plan their lives.

The commitment to disability services as outlined in the programme for partnership Government is guided by two principles, namely, equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. With regard to the provision of day services for school leavers with disabilities, including those with autism, the programme for partnership Government states that the Government is committed to ensuring that all 18 year old school leavers with disabilities have continued education or training opportunities.

I recognise that this transition phase is a time of worry and uncertainty for families and I identified the needs of school leavers as one of my main initial priorities for disability services. I have already commenced meetings with the HSE on this issue. One of the first things I did on taking up office was to meet the HSE to obtain a detailed brief on this and a number of other issues. To ensure that the needs of school leavers are met in 2016, funding of €7.25 million is being allocated by the HSE to provide appropriate services and supports.

Once-off funding of €2 million is also being provided for the refurbishment and fit-out of buildings to provide suitable service locations by September, based on an assessment of the physical capacity within existing services to accommodate the additional numbers. A standardised process for the identification of support needs has been put in place and a detailed picture of each individual has been built up in order to ascertain his or her needs and preferences.

This process is almost complete and letters will be sent to the chief officers of each HSE community health care organisation shortly with details of the resources to be allocated for each individual young person. Notification will also be issued of the once-off funding for building refurbishment and fit-out to enable locations to be ready for September. It is also the intention that all young people and their families will be contacted by the end of May, something with which I strongly agree because we need to have these services planned for and ready by the end of May, with confirmation of the service which will be available to them from September. I have listened to what Deputy Broughan said and I will meet senior HSE officials and the Minister for Health next week to discuss many of the issues he has raised.

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