Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if it is in line with her policy for the Health Service Executive to provide money directly to a group of parents of children with Down's syndrome or to an organisation working on their behalf to provide support services consisting of speech therapy, occupational therapy, social workers and a psychologist; if such a practice has been authorised by her Department and the Comptroller and Auditor General; and if so, if there is a designated HSE liaison or department in the HSE to contact in order to arrange such a course of action. [8307/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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It is the policy of the Department of Health and Children to provide appropriate health and personal social service supports to people with a disability including those with Down Syndrome. Funding for health services including disability services is provided annually to the Health Service Executive by the Exchequer. The HSE, either directly or through a service level agreement with various non governmental organisations, provide a range of health related supports consistent with assessed need, priorities and available resources. Arrangements with non governmental agencies are authorised under sections 38 and 39 of the Health Act 2004, and as such come within the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General for auditing purposes. However as the matter raised by the Deputy is a service issue, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the support services available to children with Down's syndrome attending primary school; if speech and language therapy is provided to children with Downs syndrome attending primary school and the service providers for such services for children residing in the Lucan area of County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8308/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.