Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I am pleased to take this opportunity to clarify the matter relating to the provision of beds at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, NRH, Dún Laoghaire.

The provision of health-related services for people with disabilities, physical, sensory or intellectual, and for those with autism is a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards.

The Sisters of Mercy founded the National Rehabilitation Hospital in conjunction with the National Organisation for Rehabilitation in 1961. This specialised hospital has a capacity of 123 beds and serves people from all over the country. It provides treatment and rehabilitation for patients with spinal cord injuries, head injuries, amputation, traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury, strokes, neurological disorders, children's disabilities and spina bifida. It also provides wheelchair and mobility aids assessment. Since 1986 the hospital has run pre-vocational and vocational training programmes involving a wide range of social, personal and work-related skills with a view to enhancing opportunities for each individual for further training, employment and educational options.

The NRH has been undergoing development in the past number of years. In January 2004, the new Corofin millennium lodge and rehabilitative training unit was built with the help of funding from the millennium fund and the Eastern Regional Health Authority. The 12-bed unit provides an invaluable resource to people with acquired brain and spinal cord injuries and to their families and carers. It enables clients from outside the greater Dublin area to access services in the hospital and in the rehabilitative training unit.

The NRH also submitted proposals regarding the redevelopment of the hospital. The redevelopment relates to a 235-bed hospital on its site in Dún Laoghaire and the Government is committed to capital investment in this project under the capital investment framework 2004 to 2008. This redevelopment is at early planning stages.

One of the most positive features of disability services here in Ireland is the strong partnership which now exists between all involved in the planning and delivery of services. This partnership includes the Government, health boards, voluntary agencies, families and friends and of course persons with disabilities themselves. I am pleased that both this and the previous Government have been in a position to make a significant investment in these services in recent years.

Since 1997, additional funding amounting to €643 million has been invested in health funded support services for people with intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities and those with autism. A total of €400 million of this was allocated to services for persons with intellectual disability and those with autism. Services to people with intellectual, physical or sensory disabilities and those with autism is one of the limited number of areas in which additional funding has been provided by the Government in any Department over 2003 and 2004. The health funded services in this sector have advanced greatly over the past number of years but further work is required. To that end, I am pleased the Government was in a position to announce in the budget a special disability multi-annual funding package with a total value of close to €900 million over the years 2006 to 2009. This funding is being dedicated until 2009 to ensure delivery of these high priority disability services. The package includes guaranteed additional current spending of almost €600 million. The Government has also agreed to allocate €300 million out of the revised capital envelope to these high-priority disability services.

The bulk of the new funding package will go to the health sector where it will be invested in services for persons with intellectual disability and those with autism, services for persons with physical or sensory disabilities and mental health services. It will focus, in particular, on the provision of extra residential, respite and day places, extra home support and personal assistance and extra places in community based mental health facilities. Funding of residential places for people with significant disabilities and the provision of extra home support and personal assistant services will assist in the speediest discharge of NRH patients and alleviate pressure.