Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris. I thank Deputy Butler for raising this issue. Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. The HSE has statutory responsibility for the provision of services for people with intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities or autism and their carers. These services include basic health services such as medical cards, prescribed drugs and medicines, medical and surgical aids and appliances, hospital services, dental services, optical services and aural services. The HSE funds a range of community services and supports to enable each individual with a disability to achieve his or her full potential and maximise independence. Services are provided in a variety of community and residential settings in partnership with service users, their families and carers and a range of statutory, non-statutory, voluntary and community groups. Voluntary agencies provide the majority of services in partnership with and on behalf of the HSE.

With the Deputy's permission, as she is already aware of much of the information provided, I will skip a couple of paragraphs.

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