Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I am replying to this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The Health Service Executive will undertake a case review in respect of the person named by the Senator to establish how his needs can be met. The accommodation at the Cheshire Home in Blackrock is not designed to meet the needs of the individual referred to by the Senator. It is not, therefore, appropriate that this individual be transferred from Loughlinstown Hospital to the Cheshire Home in Blackrock.

The HSE has a list of individuals who require personal assistant supports and will review this case in line with other competing priorities. The Cheshire Home in Blackrock was developed to provide accommodation for a number of individuals with physical disabilities who require minimal or no additional supports. At this time a vacancy exists at the Cheshire Home but the HSE, in discussion with those in charge at the home, have agreed that, in light of the greatest current need, this place should be utilised for respite because this will address the priority needs of a number of individuals.

Where an individual requires the support of a personal assistant, the facility at Blackrock is not the appropriate place to meet his or her need. The Government has invested heavily in health and personal social services for people with disabilities. Additional funding and services have been provided under the Government's multi-annual investment programme. For each additional personal assistant appointed in recent years, individuals with disabilities received the appropriate supports they require in their daily lives. In this context, an additional 900,000 personal assistance-home support hours were provided between 2005 and 2008 for people with physical and sensory disabilities. This year, the HSE plans to deliver 3.2 million hours of personal assistance-home support. Despite the substantial increase in service provision, the Government acknowledges the significant demand for new services and recognises that there is a growing requirement to enhance existing services. The Government has continued its commitment to develop public health services in line with its budgetary strategy in order to provide a sustainable and significant level of funding for public health services in line with economic circumstances.