Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on introducing a scheme similar to the home care package which would enable the parents of severely disabled children to avail of same to care for children at home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12367/07]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy may be aware that the HSE provides a range of services for children with disabilities such as home support, respite, day services, therapies, and residential services. The funding for these services has been augmented over the last three years through the Multi-annual Investment Programme 2006-2009 and Multi Disciplinary funding to underpin the implementation of Part 2 of the Disability Act.

The HSE strives to ensure that the combination of services afforded an individual maximises support for that person, and their family, giving recognition to this Department's Statement of Strategy of providing appropriate care in the most appropriate setting to people with disabilities. These initiatives can, and are, being targeted at children with disabilities and their families with the objective of sustaining such family units and it is a policy of the HSE to promote such supports to this cohort of children.