Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Browne for raising the matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House the position regarding the additional funding provided for services for children and adults with disabilities in 2006.

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. With 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 and the continuation of the implementation of the transfer of persons with intellectual disability or autism from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements.

In addition to the services mentioned above, further funding of €22.5 million is being provided in 2006. 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 and to address core underfunding 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 the above mentioned developments.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver or arrange to be delivered on its behalf health and personal social services. This includes the responsibility for the funding of new or enhanced levels of health and personal social services.

With regard to the matter raised by the Senator, the Health Service Executive has informed my Department that it has been proposed that an unused property and grounds, owned by the Health Service Executive south-eastern area, in Myshall, County Carlow, be used to facilitate the development of day and residential services for people with autism. To determine whether a service of this nature can be developed in Myshall, the Health Service Executive advertised recently requesting expressions of interest from service providers to indicate service proposals for autism specific residential services. The expression of interest process and submissions must include an assessment by potential service providers of the option of using this property. Alternative options may be submitted but consideration of the use of the above property is a requirement.

The Health Service Executive further states that a short-listing process will take place following the closing date for receipt of expressions of interest. A more detailed consideration of the proposals will then follow. The final option for the use of the property at Myshall will be pursued as part of the Health Service Executive south-eastern area's multi-annual planning for service developments in the context of approved new development funding and the established arrangements through the regional consultative committee for intellectual disability.