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

I thank Deputy Funchion for raising the important issue of home support hours for people with disabilities. I will take this opportunity to outline the current situation with this matter.

I assure the Deputy of the Government's commitment to providing services and supports to people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. The commitment is outlined in A Programme for a Partnership Government. It is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

One way the HSE is working to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities is through the provision of home support hours. In the HSE’s National Service Plan 2016, the priority was to provide 2.6 million home support hours to more than 7,300 people with a disability. The actual number of home support hours provided in 2016 was higher, at 2.9 million hours. This reflects the responsive nature of the service and takes account of the fluctuation of assessed need over time, as the needs of individual people change. This is particularly relevant in the Deputy's case.

This year the Health Service Executive is committed to maximising the provision of health and personal social services, including home support services, within available resources. In its National Service Plan 2017, the HSE expects to deliver 2.75 million home support hours to more than 7,400 people with a disability. This is an increase of 150,000 hours more than the last year’s target. The goal is to help as many people as we can. This is a positive development, which I hope we can build on in years to come.

The Deputy has raised the matter of an individual case and the home support hours which are being provided to that person. I am reluctant to speak in any great detail about the specifics of any one case. This is especially true when it comes to speaking on the floor of the Dáil. However, given that the Deputy has permission from the family, it is fine by me. I have made enquiries about the case and I understand the HSE is engaging closely with the family involved.

Due to the specific nature of the needs of the person in question, it was agreed to introduce home supports on a gradual basis. Initially, the person is receiving home support at a ratio of two staff working with the person with a disability for ten hours. Given that there are two staff involved, this equates to 20 hours of home support. The hope is to increase this gradually to 15 hours, or 30 hours when we take the two staff into account. The HSE has informed me that the family is aware that the service will be closely monitored and reviewed by relevant professionals, in consultation with the individual, his parents and a family advocate. I will meet the family and will arrange it through the Deputy any time over the next few weeks. Parents of autistic children and teenagers have to be a major priority in the delivery of services.

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