Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am in no doubt about the seriousness of the current pressures on the health service. We are still in the process of developing a service plan. However, notwithstanding the financial pressures, the Government is fully committed to ensuring the ongoing delivery of vital services and supports to people with disabilities within the confines of the resources available to us. The HSE has been provided with funding in the order of €1.4 billion to fund its 2013 disability services programme for children and adults with disabilities. This represents approximately 11.5% of overall health expenditure. As the Senator probably knows, the majority of this funding is distributed through non-statutory agencies which deliver over 80% of all disability services. There are in the region of 300 such agencies across the country which provide a significant and broad range of services for children and adults with disabilities in partnership with and on behalf of the HSE. It is worth remembering that many children and adults with disabilities can be supported very effectively within mainstream child and adult services.

Dyspraxia is a developmental co-ordination disorder that affects movement and co-ordination. It can affect the learning capacity of some children and for this reason, such children may require additional supports in the school setting to keep up with their peers. I understand a comprehensive range of supports are in place in the school system to support these children.

From a health perspective, there are a number of therapies that can make it easier for people with dyspraxia to cope. These include speech and language therapy to improve speech and communication skills and occupational therapy to find ways for people to remain independent and complete everyday tasks. Such therapy services do not necessarily have to be delivered through specialist disability providers and are frequently accessed through primary care teams and community therapy services.

I am very aware of the excellent work being carried out by the Dyspraxia Association of Ireland on behalf of children and adults across the country with dyspraxia. I also know that the association is not in receipt of a core grant from the HSE and must rely entirely on membership subscriptions, donations and its own fundraising efforts in order to finance its activities. It is not alone in this situation. Numerous organisations around the country which are providing supports for specific diagnostic groups do not receive HSE funding. The funding of these organisations is an issue that is under active and ongoing consideration by the HSE. Pending the completion of the HSE's national service plan for 2014, it is not possible to predict the service levels and funding to be provided next year for the disability sector.

I again thank the Senator for raising this issue.