David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 260: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 9 November 2005, the way in which the funding, with special reference to the extra funding her Department received for people with disabilities, as published in the Estimates in November 2004 and, subsequently, on budget day 2004, has been used or will be used; the way in which this funding has been disbursed; the mechanisms in place to ensure the funding is spent correctly; if she has satisfied herself that auditing procedures are in place and are adequate in each case. [34459/05]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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Additional funding amounting to €70 million in revenue and €60 million in capital was made available to services for people with disabilities, including those with mental illness, in 2005 as part of the national disability strategy. This funding has been used to provide the following services: services for people with intellectual disability and those with autism. An additional sum of €40 million is being allocated to services to persons with intellectual disabilities and those with autism in 2005 to provide 204 new and 96 enhanced residential places; 71 new and 58 enhanced respite places; 409 new day places; enhancement of specialist support services for people with major challenging behaviour and expansion of assessment, diagnosis, early intervention and health related support services —€4.5 million; and a sum of €2.5 million to meet costs associated with moving individuals to more appropriate placements.

With regard to services for people with physical or sensory disability, an additional sum of €15 million has been allocated to provide approximately 56 new places for people with significant disabilities who are in inappropriate settings; approximately 100,000 extra hours of home support and personal assistance in line with the current philosophy of independent living for people with disabilities; additional funding of €3 million for aids and appliances; approximately 90 extra rehabilitative training places; and additional funding to voluntary organisations.

With regard to mental health services an additional sum of €15 million has been allocated to enhanced facilities at the Central Mental Hospital; further develop child and adolescent treatment services; expand community based adult mental health teams; provide additional community residential places; open new mental health facilities; and support voluntary organisations. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 2004, details concerning the precise services put in place are a matter for the Health Service Executive. Detailed protocols governing the implementation of, and reporting on, the Multiannual Revenue and Capital Investment Programme for Services for People with Disabilities 2005-2009 have been agreed between my Department and the HSE. These, together with other monitoring mechanisms used by the HSE, will provide the facility to monitor and audit progress in this area over the coming years.