Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Murphy O'Mahony will have to accept me as a substitute for the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, who is in New York for the signing of a UN convention.

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, as well as enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. We are particularly committed to providing a range of accessible respite care supports for people with a disability and their families.

This year the HSE's disability budget is more than €1.7 billion, an increase of €92 million on last year. This year the HSE will provide in excess of 182,000 respite nights and 42,500 day respite sessions to families in need throughout the country. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, and I acknowledge the absolute need for increased respite care throughout the country. That is why we secured an additional €10 million specifically to enhance respite care. This funding will provide extra facilities and we are also planning to provide a range of alternative respite options to families. The HSE needs to ensure a robust procurement process is followed and new facilities will need to be registered with HIQA. Recruitment is already under way to ensure services can come into operation as early as possible. These are badly needed and much anticipated.

A national task group has been put in place to implement these measures. This year we will deliver 12 new dedicated respite houses at a cost of €8 million. Houses will continue to come on stream over the coming months. This will ensure one new respite house in each HSE community health organisation, CHO, area plus three in the greater Dublin area. It will increase capacity by 19,000 respite nights in a full year.

I am informed by the HSE that work is progressing well with regard to tenders, completion of any capital works, recruitment and HIQA registration. In the past month, one house opened in Kerry, additional capacity has come on stream in Athlone, and in the past week a further house has opened in north County Dublin. There are commercial sensitivities with regard to the procurement of houses and respite services. Until contracts are signed, I am unable to provide more precise details at this time. However, I expect we will be able to announce where the remaining houses will be located and the target date for their opening in the coming weeks.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

Both the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, and I, receive monthly updates on progress and we are eager to ensure that targets are met.

The HSE is also looking at innovative respite solutions. We have committed €2 million for this purpose. These alternative solutions include home respite, Saturday and evening clubs, summer camps and many other flexible, family and child-centred respite options. An extra 250 people will benefit from this type of respite break in 2018. We all need a break, and I hope that this range of initiatives will help families and be a valuable social outlet to service users throughout the country.

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