Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 627: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her policy regarding the provision of personal assistants as recommended in the commission on the status of people with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31531/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Health Act 2004 the Health Service Executive (HSE) has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for personal assistants.

The Government has fulfilled its promise in relation to the 2008 element of the Multi-Annual Investment Programme 2006-2009 by allocating additional funding of €50m to the HSE in the 2008 Budget. While the commencement of some services had been delayed this year due to a financial review, the HSE is now in a position to roll-out the planned disability developments as outlined in its 2008 Service Plan. This includes 200,000 additional personal assistant/home support hours.