Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy MacSharry for raising the matter and for articulating the issue in the context of a real life that has been affected. I am here on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath.

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities that 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. Significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services over the past number of years. As the Deputy will be aware, the overall health budget is in the order of €15.3 billion. Of this, the Health Service Executive has allocated funding of €1.772 billion to its disability service programme.

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 to 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 Health Service Executive. The Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, has been advised by the HSE that a number of therapy positions in its Sligo-Leitrim physical and sensory disability services and its Sligo-Leitrim primary care services are unfilled at present. These posts include a neurological case co-ordinator key-worker position as well as vacancies in social work and occupational therapy. The Minister of State fully appreciates the pressures that these vacancies are placing on service delivery. However, he has been assured by the HSE that a process is under way to address these staffing deficits. It is being progressed by the HSE through both its national recruitment service and its human resources department.

In terms of specific services, this Government has committed to increasing the number of occupational therapists in primary care. Funding of over €1 million was allocated in the budget to provide for 40 additional occupational therapy posts to address waiting lists and improve access to services. These posts are due to be recruited from quarter three. Occupational therapists play an important role in primary care teams and work to meet the health needs of individuals, families and the community. Their role is to provide individual intervention, assessment, advice, therapy or retraining for patients in the appropriate setting such as their institution, home, work, school or other centres. The HSE has also established a service improvement group to develop a new model of provision for occupational therapy to ensure resources are effectively managed and service are maximised. The work of this group is nearly completed.

See this speech in context