David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 619: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 463 of 26 September 2007, if the strategic review of the Health Service Executive funded adult day services for people with disabilities has been completed by the HSE National Review Group; when this report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31283/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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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.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 620: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the way in which the disability unit of the Office of Disability and Mental Health is working to improve sheltered work and training opportunities for people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31284/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In January 2008, the Government announced the establishment of the Office for Disability and Mental Health to support the Minister for Disability & Mental Health in exercising his responsibilities across four Government Departments: Health & Children, Education & Science, Enterprise, Trade & Employment and Justice, Equality & Law Reform.

A core function of the Office is to promote and develop an integrated, systematic approach to the implementation of government policy and initiatives in relation to services for people with disabilities and mental health difficulties.

One of the key priorities is to develop an appropriate continuum of training and employment support services for people with disabilities by working together with the Dept. of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, FÁS and the HSE.

Very substantial progress has been made in recent years in the areas of disability and mental health, but much remains to be done. To this end the Office is supporting a joint HSE/FÁS initiative to support people with disabilities while transitioning from rehabilitative training to vocational training and/or employment.

Likewise, the office is concerned to ensure that services that are provided to people with disabilities are consistent with their need and are delivered in integrated mainstream settings, where appropriate. To this end the Office is currently working with the HSE to carry out a comprehensive review of all adult day services. A key desired outcome of this is that people with disabilities who participate in, or who are capable of participating in employment, do so in a manner which is consistent with the mainstream policy and legislative provision.