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

The Deputy has asked a lot of very matter-of-fact questions. It is recognised that there are inconsistencies among disabled people in accessing PA support. That is why we have established a PA review group within the Department to develop a protocol for the eligibility and allocation of personal assistance services based on a universal agreed definition of personal assistance in collaboration with my Department, disabled people and service providers. Work has started on that. When I came into the Department, €40 million a year was set aside for PA support. That has increased substantially over the last number of years, and we will continue to focus on increasing it. On the number of people and the unmet need, we have the figures but I just do not have them in front me. As I have said, supporting 2,600 disabled people is not meeting the need that is there.

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