Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to provide appropriate adult placements for the autistic students leaving a school (details supplied) in County Dublin at the end of June 2008, particularly in view of the oral commitment at a meeting in September 2007 by the Health Service Executive disability manager that no school leaver from the school would be denied services and the HSE's failure to allocate funding for the appropriate day and residential services needed by these autistic children, with the result that no transition programmes can be commenced for the students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22009/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE and HSE funded agencies provide rehabilitative training for persons with disabilities to enhance their individual level of skill which will assist in accessing future employment at varying levels. The HSE employ Guidance Officers at local level to assist in the profiling of young school leavers with disabilities to appropriate training and day services. The Guidance Officers work with the school leaver, their family, school authorities and service providers to ensure that school leavers with disabilities have access to appropriate services.

The increase in services in recent years has ensured that young people with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism have appropriate services in place, to ensure a smooth transition from secondary school. In some cases, the funding provided supported the school leavers to access appropriate day services, in line with a person centred plan. In many cases, this funding provided places for individuals completing rehabilitative training, thereby creating training places for other school leavers. The HSE and HSE funded agencies also provide a range of other day services, designed to meet the needs of adults with disabilities.

The Multi-Annual Investment Programme for Disability Services makes provision for the development of additional day, residential and respite places each year between 2006 and 2009 for people with Intellectual Disability and Autism. €50m was provided to the HSE in budget 2008 for additional services to people with disabilities including additional day places.

At this time the HSE is still in discussion with the Department of Health and Children regarding the commencement of 2008 developments in the context of the overall financial position of the HSE. The HSE is therefore not in a position to approve the commencement of these developments until these discussions are concluded.