Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a meeting (details supplied) will take place; the progress to date following the previous meeting with the group on 18 June 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37708/08]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to advise the Deputy, that I intend to meet with this group again before the end of the year. My Department is in ongoing contact with the Health Service Executive (HSE) on disability issues including service developments in the context of monitoring the HSE National Service Plan 2008.

In the 2008 Budget, €50m was provided to the 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.