John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the directives she has issued with regard to the additional funding totalling €100 million which is to be included for the improvement of health funded support services for people with disabilities; the amount of the €100 million to address core under-funding and core staffing issues in services provided by the voluntary sector, having regard to the needs of people with disabilities which will be allocated to County Sligo and north Leitrim; if consideration of these needs will take into account an urgent case for funding of necessary services currently provided through FÁS employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25295/06]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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My Department has issued the following proposed developments to the Health Service Executive (HSE) in relation to expenditure for Disability Services in 2006. €58.8m has been provided in 2006 to meet costs associated with the following: Services for Persons with Intellectual Disability and Those with Autism; €39.5m 255 new residential places; 85 new respite places; 535 new day places; and €2.2m to continue the implementation of the transfer of persons with intellectual disability/autism from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements. Services for Persons with Physical or Sensory Disabilities; €11.8m 80 new residential places for persons with significant disabilities who are currently placed in inappropriate settings; 250,000 extra hours of home support and personal assistance; and funding has also been provided for the employment of up to three Resource Officers to assist persons with sensory disabilities and for the provision of assistive/adaptive technology for people with sensory disabilities (€0.5m).

Mental Health Services; €7.5m.

€7.5m to support the provision of additional community based mental health facilities, including mental health day centres, day hospitals and community residential facilities.

Additional Disability Support Services:

In addition to the specific high profile disability services which are included in the programme outlined above, additional funding amounting to €41.2m has been provided as follows: Intellectual, Physical and Sensory Disability/Autism — €22.5m.

Additional funding amounting to €12.5m has been provided to enhance the level and range of multi-disciplinary support services available to adults and children with intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities and those with autism, with a priority in 2006 on enhancing the assessment and support services for children with disabilities.

Additional funding amounting to €10m has been made available to address core under funding and core staffing issues in services for people with disabilities provided by the voluntary sector. The principles underpinning the allocation of this funding is to be the subject of further discussion between the relevant officials in the Department and the HSE. Mental Health Services — €18.7m.

Additional funding amounting to €17.5m has been provided to enhance the level and range of multi-disciplinary support services available to adults and children with mental illness.

Funding of €1.2m has been provided to support the implementation of "Reach Out — National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention 2005 — 2014". Decisions in relation to the specific matters raised by the Deputy regarding the allocation of funding are a matter for the HSE. Therefore my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.