Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made on the publication of a review of the cost of disability payment; her plans to introduce such a payment; if so, the timeframe within which it is envisaged to introduce the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24898/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware the Department of Health and Children published a Sectoral Plan in 2006 as part of the implementation of Disability Act 2005. The Department of Health and Children Sectoral Plan is subject to annual review and the first review of the Plan was published in December 2007. The Sectoral Plan identifies key objectives in relation to income support and associated benefits for people with disabilities including an agreed protocol with the Department of Social and Family Affairs to develop income and related supports for people with disabilities in order to ensure that they have adequate, secure and sustainable income. The Government is working towards ensuring that income supports and associated benefits do not create financial barriers to people with disabilities.

The Office for Disability and Mental Health remains committed to considering the issues around the cost of disability following the development of the needs assessment system provided for in the Disability Act. In the meantime, there is significant assistance currently available to mitigate the impact of the additional costs incurred by people with a disability. These measures include weekly/monthly allowances, additional income supports; other benefits such as medical cards, free travel, mobility allowance and tax concessions.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will expedite the commencement of construction of the new National Rehabilitation Hospital at Dún Laoghaire, the services of which are needed by patients countrywide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31904/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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A key Government initiative in the area of rehabilitation is the commitment by the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to develop a national policy and strategy for the provision of medical rehabilitation services. It is expected that this will:

Define the scope of rehabilitation services;

Research best practice approaches to rehabilitation services;

Assess the needs of the population;

Outline a model of service delivery that will encompass all stages of service required to meet the needs of service users;

Recommend a framework that will ensure that service developments are within an agreed national framework with common principles;

Develop an approach in line with the transformation of HSE services toward increased delivery at primary care level.

The strategy will focus on the service provision needs of the following categories:

Static and progressive neurological conditions; traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury; and

persons with other physically disabling conditions who may benefit from medical, psychological or social rehabilitation service provision.

A Steering Group, comprised of senior officials from the Department of Health and Children and the HSE, has been established to oversee the development of the policy and strategy. A Working Group has also been formed, which will assist with the production of the policy and strategy. This Group met for the first time in July and it is hoped that the National Policy and Strategy will be completed by the end of the year.

The Programme for Government committed to increasing the existing rehabilitation capacity in addition to redeveloping the National Rehabilitation Hospital. The HSE has informed the Department of Health and Children that plans have been prepared to develop a satellite unit of the National Rehabilitation Hospital attached to Beaumont Hospital, linking the rehabilitation expertise of NRH with the neurological services in Beaumont. This new proposed unit will provide acute medical rehabilitation services and early rehabilitation for those suffering from brain injury who access the National Neurosciences Unit at Beaumont Hospital and who currently have to access services at the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Plans are also being advanced to develop rehabilitation services on the campus of Merlin Park Hospital in Galway. The Working Group will consider the appropriate strategy for service provision including this proposed extension of facilities and the proposed new units.