Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising the issue of transport for people with disabilities attending HSE-funded day services, particularly St. Michael’s House. I welcome the opportunity to outline the current position in this regard.

The HSE funds St. Michael's House to provide healthcare services on its behalf to those with intellectual disabilities. St. Michael's House provides a range of community-based day, respite, residential and early services for people with intellectual disabilities. The services provided by the organisation cover all ages from young children to older persons. Clinical support services include psychiatry, medical, nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, social work, psychology and nutrition services. Services are located both on the north side and south side of Dublin and in 2007, the service extended to provide residential care for children in Navan, County Meath. St. Michael's House provides these services on behalf of the HSE to clients based on individual assessed clinical need and healthcare is provided in the most appropriate setting to meet the client’s individual needs. The HSE is providing €87.8 million in funding to St. Michael's House in 2018.

In general, the provision of transport services is not part of core services within disability services. As a general rule, public transport should be used in all circumstances where it is an option. This is in keeping with the principle of mainstreaming, with a clear focus on ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to the normal range of services and participate in community life as far as possible. It must be noted that in general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the free travel pass so there should be no additional cost burden at an individual level. The HSE intends to liaise with the National Transport Authority and disability service providers to explore ways in which the authority's services could assist people with disabilities. The HSE plans to explore the opportunities these units may provide to people with disabilities to access day services and participate in the social, educational and economic life of their local communities. St. Michael's House is aware of the transport issues affecting a number of their service users. However, funding is not provided for the transportation of young people to and from day services. When all other options are exhausted and a person cannot avail of a day service because the or she does not have transport to attend, the service provider is advised to use some of the service money to cover the transport costs. This usually results in the provision of a reduced quantum of service.

In regard to developments to meet the day service needs of school leavers each year, all new service locations under development are located as close as possible to where people reside in order to reduce the travel time for each person and enable him or her to be more connected with his or her local community. I trust that this clarifies the position.