Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Chathaoirleach for selecting this matter and Senator Keaveney for allowing me to take her place.

I refer to the reduction in funding made available to organisations providing respite care, particularly for children with intellectual disabilities. I became involved in this issue last Thursday in my constituency in which the Sisters of Charity which is based on the Navan Road and which provides respite care for almost 80 families organised a public meeting, at which we were informed that two weeks' notice had been given for the closure of a centre in which these services were provided. The families I met on Thursday and again today are not getting much help from the State, nor are they asking for much. These are their children, their brothers and sisters, whom they love and care for, at times in very difficult circumstances. The centre in question allows them to have a break, perhaps once a week or once a month, but it allows them space to look after their own mental and physical well-being. This enables them to look after their children or their brothers and sisters with whom they are blessed.

The families concerned are hanging on in difficult circumstances. I am concerned, therefore, that the cancellation of respite care services would have a detrimental effect not only on the young people with disabilities in question but also on those who look after them. I appeal to the Minister of State to use his good offices to ask the Department of Health and Children to arrange a meeting with the HSE which is seeking to make savings and the Sisters of Charity to find a compromise. We are being told continually that if there are cutbacks in funding, everything possible will be done to ensure front-line services will not be affected. Front-line services are being romoved.

The school is closing tomorrow for the summer. In one week the respite care services enjoyed by the 80 families concerned will be removed, the staff who provide them will move elsewhere and the building will lie vacant. This is unacceptable. The reason I am raising the matter is to obtain the Department's perspective and urge it to use its good offices to facilitate a meeting between the HSE and the Sisters of Charity to find a compromise to keep the service open. I again thank Senator Keaveney for allowing me to speak first.

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I reply on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children. I thank Senator Donohoe for raising this matter and I am pleased to take this opportunity to outline the position relating to the 2010 funding for the Daughters of Charity services at St. Vincent's Centre, Navan Road, Dublin 7.

The Government is very much aware of the valuable contribution the voluntary sector, including the Daughters of Charity, makes to the provision of services to people with intellectual disabilities. By way of illustration, funding of €900 million was provided to 281 intellectual disability service providers in 2009. With regard to the Daughters of Charity services, the HSE provided more than €110 million to the Daughters of Charity in 2009. This is an increase of €25 million since 2005.

This sustained level of additional investment reflects the significant growth and development in the Daughters of Charity services in the recent past. The HSE is aware of the challenges service providers, including the Daughters of Charity, are experiencing and the particular difficulties facing all health services in 2010. In this context, it is vital that all service providers, including the voluntary sector, work creatively and co-operatively to ensure that the maximum level of services are maintained for service users within the funding resources available.

The HSE is aware of the challenges the reduction in allocations will present to organisations in ensuring they meet the needs of service users and in planning for emergencies that arise throughout the year. It is recognised that maintaining service levels within available resources will require significant levels of co-operation, change, flexibility and creativity. The HSE will continue to work in partnership with the voluntary service providers in dealing with issues that arise from funding allocations, to ensure the needs of service users are prioritised and addressed.

Disability service providers were asked to submit their plans for the maintenance of service levels within available resources taking the following into consideration: items of expenditure which do not immediately and directly impact on front-line services; where rationalisation can be effected; the manner in which services are delivered; opportunities to reduce costs by sharing services and/or activities with other agencies; the cost of back office administration, all other unnecessary costs and rationalisation of general management structures. The HSE will continue to work with the voluntary service providers to streamline costs and identify areas where efficiencies can be achieved without impacting on front-line services.

This Government remains committed to the long-term goals and objectives of the national disability strategy. Our commitment in the area of disability has been consistent. Overall approximately €1.6 billion is spent annually by the health service on specialist health and personal social services and supports for people with a disability. Despite the current economic climate, the HSE's national service plan for 2010 makes provision for additional funding of €19.5 million to meet the anticipated growth in demand for disability services in 2010.

There has been continued expansion in the availability of respite support services. These services have grown significantly in recent years. More than 4,599 people avail of respite services funded by the HSE. This service has supported people to continue living with their families and in their communities. The Government is very much aware of the importance of respite service provision for the families of children and adults with disabilities, and is concerned to ensure that front-line services are protected as far as possible.

Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)
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I ask the Minister to pass on my desperate request to the HSE that it meet the Daughters of Charity on the Navan Road and do all it can to ensure that services are not withdrawn in a week and a half. The Minister said the Government is doing all that is possible to maintain front-line services. These services will go and, to the best of my knowledge, the HSE and the Daughters of Charity have not met since this announcement was made. I ask the Minister to convey that to the HSE so we can try to avoid a desperate situation.