Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate. I intend to address two issues that are referred to in the motion, namely, day services and respite provision. I will also speak about the "Prime Time" programme and address some of the points raised by Deputy Connolly.

As a Member of this House, I have spoken with numerous carers and, more recently, I have done so as Minister of State with responsibility for disability services. Many of them have told me about the struggles they face in looking after the most vulnerable. The pandemic has worsened the situation for many carers. I take this opportunity to thank them sincerely and to restate the Government's commitment to supporting people with disability and their families and carers at this time. As I said, I want to use my time this morning to address points raised by Deputies regarding respite provision and day services.

I am very aware of the delay in some local health authority areas in the provision of respite services and the stress this is causing for people with disabilities and their families. The HSE regards the provision of disability services as essential to maintaining a response to people with disabilities. I have brought about some changes in this regard since last September. In the first wave of the Covid crisis, disability services were not deemed to be essential services. Disability provision is now deemed to be an essential service for adults. As a consequence of the Covid crisis, centre-based respite facilities are generally providing services at a 40% to 60% occupancy level due to the precautions necessary to maintain physical distancing and adhere to infection prevention and control requirements. The majority of centres are open on a reduced capacity basis due to the physical distancing requirements.

In a very small number of cases, certain centres remain closed or continue to be used for isolation purposes, subject to the prevailing local indices of infection. The HSE continues to work with service providers locally to maximise both centre-based and alternative non-residential respite and support options in order to provide services wherever possible. Targeted, one-to-one home support hours are being offered in lieu of respite in certain circumstances, subject to appropriate risk assessments and in line with the prevailing infection and prevention control guidelines. In 2021, the HSE will provide 214 intensive respite support packages to children and young adults.

We all hope that Covid rates will fall and that improved services can be offered. In budget 2021, I committed to providing funding to the HSE to develop nine additional respite services across the country, which is one for every community healthcare organisation, CHO, in the State. The purpose is to ensure that where we do not have proper respite services, we will, at a minimum, have one functioning respite house in every CHO. That provision is predominantly focused on children's respite but will also provide for adult need. The HSE is engaging as a matter of priority with service providers to develop these services in each CHO and I hope to be in a position to confirm the locations of other facilities in the coming months. Three weeks ago, St. Gabriel's Centre in Limerick was the first of these centres to which funding was allocated and facilities and staff are being commissioned and recruited as we speak.

This time last year, day services had to close due to the unprecedented threat of Covid. In August, we succeed in having them deemed to be essential services. When the services resumed in August, they were coming from a very low base. By September, we had got the quantum of service up to 31%. Today, it stands at 55%. The additional investment in disability services secured under the Covid action plan and budget 2021 will build the capacity of our adult disability services and is enabling us to increase day services provision by one day a week. It will also support approximately 1,700 young people who will leave school and training programmes in 2021. I commend service providers and staff on their commitment and flexibility in maintaining this level of service in very difficult circumstances. Additional guidance has been circulated to all service providers to ensure that they maintain regular contact with service users who are not attending the locations.

I cannot see a clock but I have no doubt the Acting Chairman will tell me when to stop.

There are two other matters, including the important question of a carer needs assessment, CNA, commitment in 2021. There is €180,000 in funding for the roll-out of carer needs assessment as part of the single assessment tool project that has been secured from the dormant accounts fund. The CNA has been done and was due to begin in 2021. It is starting in 2021 in community healthcare organisation, CHO 2 in order to provide a mechanism to assess family carer needs better with a view to linking them to relevant services and support, which is really welcome. We know the tool used for carers to access supports is not very clear.

There have been 27,000 hours of emergency respite made available through Family Carers Ireland to ensure the immediate care needs of care recipients could be met in the event that a carer would be no longer able to continue in a role.

There was a question on the "RTÉ Investigates" programme and my understanding is there shall be statements on that tomorrow afternoon. I do not have the full facts to answer all the questions but I will come before the House, perhaps with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, to answer questions on those matters.

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