Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. I acknowledge the Senator's comments and I agree with him about the many community organisations running services on the ground. Without constant fundraising by their members and extended families many organisations would have huge problems. I acknowledge this.

As the Senator is aware, iCARE provides a range of activities for children and young adults with autistic spectrum disorder in the Inishowen area. The organisation also provides support services for siblings and parents of children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. I also acknowledge Bluestack Special Needs Foundation's extraordinary achievements since it was established in 2006. The foundation operates a range of educational, practical and emotional support programmes using a family support model and provides evening and weekend activities as well as summer camps and a diverse range of activities. Through its funding activities, the foundation has made very significant donations to charities in the area over a number of years. The family-centred approach adopted by iCARE and Bluestack is an important move away from a system designed to suit the needs of the service provider and towards a system that is designed to meet needs of service users and their families. This model ensures that families are empowered by being supported and included in the planning of their children’s care.

While the HSE does not have a formal funding agreement in place with Bluestack Foundation, I understand it has, on occasion, received modest funding through the national lottery, including €3,000 in 2016 for the purchase of equipment and €5,000 towards the cost of summer camps in 2017. Following a request for urgent funding earlier this year, the HSE met representatives of Bluestack Special Needs Foundation and funding of €36,000 was awarded to assist the organisation.

I understand that both organisations have submitted current funding applications to the HSE. The HSE's national service planning process for 2019 is under way. Pending completion of this process it would not be appropriate for the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, to comment on specific funding requests at this time. We know that, sadly, there was a time when members of our society with disabilities, whether sensory, intellectual or physical, or indeed those with a learning difficulty, were excluded from many aspects of everyday life, and often, unfortunately, stereotyped due to ignorance, prejudice or misinformation. The success with which iCARE and Bluestack have integrated their services into the community goes an enormous way towards challenging this historic exclusion and is very much to be welcomed.

The Government remains committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities, which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. As part of this commitment a radical programme of reform of disability services is under way. This significant programme of reform is set out in policies such as Transforming Lives, Time to Move on from Congregated Settings and New Directions. Implementation of these policies will continue to have a practical and tangible impact on the lives of young people and their families.