Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her Department has received an application for funding from organisations (details supplied) setting out the position whereby further funding reductions in 2009 will adversely affect persons with intellectual disabilities and their families and which would mean that those currently needing services are facing reduced or withdrawn service; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that 2009 is the final year of the Government's multi-annual investment programme under the national disability strategy; her plans to ensure that the commitment to make €50 million available in 2009 is honoured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35053/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, it is custom and practice for a number of organisations, including those in the disability sector, to forward pre-budget submissions to the relevant Ministers and their Departments in the run up to the Budget. Such submissions are considered as part of the discussions on the Estimates and Budget each year. While it is not appropriate to comment further on the organisations (details supplied) pre-budget submissions, I would like to point out that this year's Budget is being framed against the background of challenging economic circumstances.

In relation to health services for people with a disability, I would like to take the opportunity to highlight the significant resources which have been expended on disability services in 2008. The Multi Annual Investment Programme for Disability Services makes provision for the development of additional residential, respite places and day care places for people with Intellectual Disability and Autism and additional residential care and home support services for people with physical and sensory disabilities.

In the 2008 Budget, €50m was provided to the Health Service Executive (HSE) to fund a range of additional services under the Multi Annual Investment Programme for Disability. Although the commencement of the planned developments in disability services this year had been delayed due to a financial review, I am pleased to inform you that the Executive has informed the Department of Health and Children that it is now in the process of rolling out the planned developments. The HSE has indicated that due to the delayed start to some of these developments it expects to spend €33m of the €50m by the end of 2008. The resulting €17m time related savings were included in this Department's budgetary consolidation measures announced to the House in July 2008.

It is not appropriate for me or my Department to comment on the resources that will be allocated in 2009, prior to the announcement of the Budget 2009 package.