Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

On behalf of my colleague, Deputy Martin, Minister for Health and Children, I thank the Senator for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to outline the Department's position on this issue.

In recent years the Department of Health and Children has provided funding to meet identified needs in existing services. It has also provided funding to put in place new service developments to meet needs in residential, respite, day and other support services. These needs arise from the changing profile of persons with an intellectual disability or those with autism which has increased the number of older and medically fragile people availing of these services, in particular residential services. They also relate to issues such as underfunding of base budgets, including the need to consolidate elements of services previously funded from sources such as fundraising. The Department has sought to address these issues as resources have permitted.