Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason no services are in place for school leaving autistic syndrome sufferers despite the fact that it is almost the end of June 2008; the further reason the promised reply to this Deputy's question of 27 May 2008 on this subject has not been issued by the Health Service Executive; if details of the adult day care placements for those children leaving a school (details supplied) in County Dublin will be provided in view of the distress this uncertainty is causing their families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24334/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The 2008 Service Plan, developed by the HSE and approved by this Department, included €50m for the development of additional disability services. The standard expenditure sanction issued to the HSE for 2008 stipulated that the prior approval of my Department and the Department of Finance would be required in the event of any proposal to spend this money for any other purpose. Clearly, it is essential that the HSE lives within its overall budget for the year. It needs to manage its activity levels and cost drivers appropriately to achieve this and I do not believe it is desirable to resort to using development funding to offset expenditure pressures arising in respect of ongoing health services.

The HSE is currently reviewing its overall financial position for the year and the roll-out of planned developments in disability services is being considered in that context. I have been in communication with the HSE with a view to an early determination on the matter. The HSE has informed my Department that it plans to release €20m of the €50m additional funding for Disability Services. I understand that a reply to the Deputy's question of 27th May 2008 will issue this week.

The Deputy's specific 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.