David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 140: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the total public expenditure on disability specific services in 2006 was €3.3 billion as detailed in his speech (details supplied); if not, the total for 2006 with a breakdown of to whom this money was allocated and on what it was spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27803/07]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the budget for the special disability multi-annual funding package from 2006 to 2009 remains at €900 million as announced in Budget 2005 with a breakdown of total public expenditure each year respectively to date in 2007 under this special package; the type of services and so on that this funding covers and the location to where it is allocated with a breakdown of total estimated and expected expenditure per annum for each of the remaining years of the package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27804/07]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the overall public expenditure on disability specific services each year respectively since 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27805/07]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if the expenditure on the multi-annual funding package is included in the figures for total public expenditure on disability specific services each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27806/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 to 143, inclusive, together.

The overall allocation of Exchequer funding for the provision of disability specific services is provided for in the annual estimates.

The multi annual investment package for disability announced in Budget 2005 provided for expenditure of €135m in 2006, €198m in 2007, €253m in 2008 and €308m in 2009 mainly for health and education. Expenditure on Disability for 2006 of €3.3 billion mentioned in my speech and for previous years covers expenditure by the main Departments on programmes but does not include expenditure on income support by the Department of Social and Family Affairs and disability related expenditure by other Departments. Following the enactment of the Disability Act, 2005, and consultation with Departments in the matter, my Department has recently begun co-ordinating the collection of actual expenditure on Disability Services.

The provision for expenditure on the multi annual investment programme, for expenditure on disability specific services referred to in my speech and since 2004 and the existing level of service provision for 2008 together with the outturn for 2006, as reported by individual Departments to my Department, is as follows:

Information is still awaited from the Departments of Agriculture, Arts Sports and Tourism, Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Defence. This expenditure is relatively small. I have asked the Departments to provide this information directly to the Deputy.

As regards the issue of additional funding for Disability Specific Services in 2008, I will present Budget 2008 to the Dáil on 5 December 2007 and, as is normal, I will not comment on the contents of the Budget in advance of that date.

The development of policy, the provision of services for people with disability and expenditure on those services in each sector are primarily a matter for the Minister responsible for each sector. Under the Disability Act 2005, each Minister is responsible for allocating out of the moneys available to him or her the maximum amount as he/she considers appropriate for such services having regard to the other obligations which he or she must provide for.

In addition, the Departments of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Health and Children, Social and Family Affairs and Department of Transport are responsible for preparing Disability Sectorial Plans. The Departments covered have prepared Sectorial Plans on disability and these plans were presented to Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann on 17 and 18 October 2006 respectively. These plans cover vital areas of communications, work and training, health, transport, the accessibility of the environment, local government services and social welfare. They set out how services will be better and more accessible. A high level monitoring group representing Government Departments and people with disabilities is working together to make the plans become a reality.

Any queries in relation to the detail of the provision of and expenditure on disability specific services should therefore be referred to the relevant Ministers.