Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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I am grateful to the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this important matter.

Catherine was a perfect child until she got encephalitis at the age of three. Her balance went and she developed a juvenile form of multiple sclerosis. She is now 22 years old and is in need of full-time care and assistance for all the tasks of everyday life. She suffers from epilepsy and kidney problems, with urinary incontinence. She has tunnel vision and lacks peripheral vision. She needs to use a wheelchair to get out and about.

Catherine attends the training centre in Ballina, County Mayo, two days per week. She has a personal assistant with her in the centre who protects her from falls and looks after her every personal need. Without the presence of this personal assistant on those two days, she would not be safe and would be a danger to herself. She would like to spend more than two days at the centre, but this is not possible because of a lack of funding to hire a personal assistant for the other three days. She must stay a home because of this.

I appeal for funding for the hiring of her personal assistant for the other three weekdays as she is restless and ill at ease sitting at home. Like everyone else, she wants to work five days of the week. She is demoralised when she cannot work as she misses the social contact with her fellow workers. She is not happy because she must stay at home. She must do so only because money is not available to hire her personal assistant for the other three days a week and, unlike her work colleagues, she cannot work those days. She was also refused respite care and her mother was refused a carer's allowance.

I appeal to the Minister of State to act to provide the necessary funding for the hiring of Catherine's personal assistant to enable her to work for five days a week. I cannot understand how that cannot be done — in the interests of equality it should be done. Disability is something with which this girl must live for the rest of her life. She would have a better chance of a normal life and an existence in which she could contribute even more to society like everyone else if she were in a position to work five days a week. It is not fair that she cannot do so and I hope the Minister of State will give her that chance.

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment and I am pleased to take this opportunity to clarify the matter relating to the provision of health related services to people with physical or sensory disabilities, including the provision of personal assistance services.

Under the multi-annual investment programme 2006-2009, which is part of the national disability strategy, additional funding amounting to €51.5 million is being provided by the Government in 2006 to meet costs associated with the provision of certain specific high profile disability services. In regard to services for persons with intellectual disability and those with autism, this includes 255 new residential places; 85 new respite places; 535 new day places; 250,000 extra hours of home support and personal assistance services; and the continuation of the implementation of the transfer of persons with intellectual disability-autism from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements.

In addition to these initiatives, additional funding of €22.5 million is being provided this year. This funding has been allocated to enhance the multi-disciplinary support services for children and adults with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities and those with autism. The funding will also address core under-funding and core staffing issues in services for people with disabilities provided by the voluntary sector. Capital funding amounting to €45 million has also been provided in 2006 to put in place the infrastructural supports associated with these developments.

The provision of personal assistant services by or through the Health Service Executive is based on a careful prioritisation process. This process takes place at local level and draws on the expertise of those active in the voluntary and statutory service. I understand that it also takes account of priorities based on assessment of need.

The development of personal assistant services over the last number of years has led to increased demand for the service and the prioritisation process allows for an equitable division of resources. In the case raised by the Deputy, I understand that the Health Service Executive has taken measures to address the service needs of Catherine. I understand that a local voluntary agency has been contracted to provide a personal assistant service to her for two days a week and this arrangement will continue in the future. I have no doubt that the Health Service Executive will continue to keep Catherine's circumstances under review having regard to the prioritisation process for personal assistant services.

I note that the Deputy refers to Catherine's wish to work outside the home. I understand that FÁS is active in providing people with disabilities with assistance in gaining and retaining employment and it may be in the best position to assist Catherine in achieving her desire to work.