Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there are physiotherapy services available to children attending a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24515/07]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 18 receives physiotherapy; and her views on whether it is vital for any young child with a severe mental and physical disability to receive physiotherapy as early as possible in life and on a daily basis. [24516/07]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together.

As the Deputy may be aware an additional sum of €75m for revenue purposes was provided to the Health Service Executive for Disability Services in the 2007 Budget. This amount 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 multi-disciplinary support services to adults and children with an intellectual, physical and sensory disability and those with autism, including therapy services.

The Disability Act, 2005 is a central element of the National Disability Strategy. The Act is a positive measure designed to advance and underpin participation by people with disabilities in everyday life. Under Part 2 of the Act a person with a disability (or their parent, spouse relative, guardian or personal representative) is entitled to apply for an independent assessment of need. An Assessment Officer will coordinate this Assessment and shall commence the assessment process as soon as possible after the completed application form has been received but not later than three months after that date. At the end of this process the person will receive an Assessment report.

This report will state if the person has a disability (as defined in the Act) and where it is determined that the person does, the report will contain a statement of the nature and extent of the disability, a statement of the health and education needs (if any) occasioned to the person by the disability and a statement of the services considered appropriate by the Assessment Officer. The Executive shall complete the assessment, the assessment report and forward the assessment report to the Liaison Officer within a further three months from the date on which the assessment commenced, save for in exceptional circumstances, when the assessment will be completed without undue delay. This report must be written without regard to the cost or capacity to provide any of the services they need.

Part 2 commenced for children aged under 5 years with effect from 1st June 2007. This prioritisation reflects the importance of intervention early in life, which can have a significant impact on the disabling effects of a condition or impairment. Part 2 will be commenced in respect of children aged 5-18 in tandem with the implementation of the EPSEN Act. The statutory requirements of Part 2 of the Disability Act will be extended to adults as soon as possible but no later than 2011.

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal 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.