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

I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this important matter. I acknowledge that this is an area in which the Deputy has particular interest. The Deputy is no different to me in that, as someone who represents a rural constituency, he understands completely the challenges parents of this young lady and others have come to him about. The Deputy previously asked about difficulties young people may have in attending training centres and places of employment. I responded that a PA service may be of benefit. I wish to clarify that I was speaking specifically of the provision of PA support, which the Deputy has raised here, in circumstances where young people are attending further or higher education. I agree with the Deputy in that, unfortunately, geography and pot luck are sometimes the case.

The Deputy is asking for the reinstatement of this service. He is also right - this is not stated in the notes - that I reconvened the relevant committee and had officials from all Departments attend it. What was very interesting was that while we say within the HSE we do not provide transport to attend services, we spend €40 million on transport annually. The HSE spends €40 million in supporting young people to attend their day services.

In some areas the HSE works very closely with the provider, particularly where young people have left post-primary education to get them into a routine, establish a pathway for attending the service and put in place a comfort zone for the family. At a minimum, whatever the comfort zone is for that young person to attend should be put in place. Some people will thrive on it and expand on it, and once they find their way, they will not need the PA support. They do not need that extra bit that might be required. In some cases, it will not work for them at all and they will continue to need it but that can never be tested unless we try it out first. The Deputy is asking that it be reinstated so that we can provide support.

I should also note that, in general, day-service users are in receipt of the disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the free travel pass. I am aware that the Deputy has raised a specific area but in all cases it is not appropriate that the free travel pass would work. The issue of transport to day services is acknowledged by the HSE and my new Department, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. It is also recognised that without this support, many people with disabilities would not be able to access services. The HSE and service providers work very hard every year at a local level to source transport solutions for adult day-service users. Where it is identified that there is a need and a risk, it is essential a solution is found.

The HSE has also been working with the National Transport Authority, NTA, on this issue of transport to day services through the open routes project. Open routes is based on the idea that transport to HSE services, such as day services, would be best served by accessible local transport such as Local Link transporting people to their day service but also servicing the wider local community as well as enhanced public transport provision. This approach is being piloted in County Leitrim. While it is a step change and going in the right direction, I encourage the Department of Transport to accelerate its roll-out. It will not work for all, however. The NTA has advised that the integrated pilot project was developed in close collaboration with the HSE with a revised network that is designed to meet the needs of mainstream public transport users as well as the transport needs of passengers with disabilities and those accessing healthcare.

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