Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Moran for raising this issue. I know of her strong commitment in this area. I am responding to her on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. I am pleased to outline the position on placements for school leavers who need continuing supports from the health sector. While the Government does not comment on individual cases, I wish to assure the Senator that our policy is to enable young people with disabilities to live independent lives to the greatest extent possible and to receive the supports they need to achieve this. Many young people with disabilities will progress to mainstream education, training or employment, but some will need continuing support from the HSE. Day services for adults with disabilities provide a network of support for over 25,000 people who have a wide spectrum of support needs due to intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities, autism and mental health problems. Every year, the HSE, through its occupational guidance service, works with schools, service providers, service users and families to identify the needs of young people with disabilities who are due to complete their second-level education and will require varying levels of continuing support. This year, at the request of the Minister for Health, an additional €7 million in funding and 35 posts were allocated by the HSE to meet the needs of school leavers with disabilities.

Over 900 school leavers applied. Even with the extra funding, the provision of this level of new service has been challenging for all concerned. To meet the challenge, the Health Service Executive, HSE, has implemented a new centralised application process and national operational approach to school leaver placements.

An important aspect of the new approach has been the establishment of a national oversight group representing disability sector umbrella organisations, service users and senior HSE staff. With stakeholder support, the HSE has worked to identify the service providers with capacity to respond to assessed need and agree the allocation of additional resources where required. This process has been completed. The HSE has assured the Minister that, in all but a very small number of cases, school leavers and their families have now been notified of the placement which will be available to them in September. This is a significant achievement by all concerned and a great improvement on the position in recent years.

In the remaining cases, the HSE, service providers and families are still in discussions regarding the most suitable placement for the school leaver. Strenuous efforts are being made to reach a satisfactory resolution for each young person concerned as soon as possible. In respect of the young woman referred to by the Senator, the HSE has assured the Minister for Health that a suitable placement will be provided for her in September and that it is working with the local service provider to assess how her needs may be best accommodated. Discussions are ongoing and a meeting will be held with the young woman's family in the coming days. I assume the information with regard to the specific place the young woman in question and her family would like has been given to the relevant authorities.