Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McGuinness for raising this important matter on behalf of SOS Kilkenny, a service provider in his constituency. It has done great work for more than 40 years. It provides a range of services for individuals, supporting them to develop and utilise their abilities to be active and valued members of their communities, leading a life of their choosing.

I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, Deputy Anne Rabbitte.

The Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, Deputy Rabbitte, on whose behalf I am taking this debate, is very much aware of the significant demands for service provision in the disability sector. She has sought to provide additional funding to address a range of programmes in recent budgets and is keen to build on work commenced with the disability capacity review. I took up the specific issue of SOS with Deputy Rabbitte before the debate today. I spoke to her and her officials. She is currently considering all applications, and no final decisions have been made. However, I have spoken to her specifically on the Deputy's request about SOS. It obviously has an application in now for a similar amount of funding to last year - €540,000. The Minister is well aware of that and the great work it does.

Funding of almost €2.8 billion for disability services has been allocated for 2024, providing the basis to continue to improving access to enhanced disability services throughout the country. The overall increase in recent years from €1.7 billion at the close of 2017 to close to €2.8 billion in 2024 reflects the programme for Government commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities, signalling to those with a disability that this Government is serious about making a difference. In 2023, the HSE national service plan provides for an additional 43 residential places as well as 23 residential care packages to young people ageing out of Tusla services. In 2023, €6.7 million new development funding was made available to further expand respite services. I note Deputy McGuinness's strong advocacy in the area of respite. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, are fully aware of the importance of respite.

As of September 2023, 8,355 residential places are being provided to some of our most vulnerable members of society. I note that, in 2023, this Government provided €100 million in once-off non-pay inflationary support payments to community-based voluntary organisations in recognition of the challenges that these organisations were experiencing as a result of increasing energy, heating and related costs. The HSE has management and oversight responsibilities for the funding provided for specialist disability services. This includes the allocation of funding at CHO level to a range of providers and services. With regard to County Kilkenny specifically, I am informed by the HSE that currently it supports the provision of 955 residential places across the community health organisation, CHO, 5.

Going back to the Deputy's key request on behalf of SOS Kilkenny for the once-off funding to be provided this year too, he has told us the business case for respite care and about the timeframe for taking on cases, and we all deal with that. I know it is a priority with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and the Minister, Deputy Donnelly. I have spoken with the Minister of State about the Deputy's specific request on SOS Kilkenny. She is considering that whole area with regard to funding and would hope to have a decision made on that in the not-too-distant future.

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