John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 231: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost of dealing properly with the increasing numbers of children with ADHD and autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13677/07]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy may be aware, recent Budgets have provided for substantial additional investment in services for people with a disability as part of the Government's Multi Annual Investment Programme 2005-2009. An extra €100m was provided in both 2006 and 2007 for the development of services in the areas of physical and sensory disability, intellectual disability and mental health.

Included in this figure is sum of €75m for revenue purposes which was provided to the Health Service Executive for Disability Services. This sum incorporates the 2007 element of the Government's multi-annual investment programme for the National Disability Strategy. This Strategy is committed to enhancing the level and range of multidisciplinary support services to adults and children with an intellectual, physical and sensory disability and those with autism.

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, 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.