Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of a review of the disability services sector which was announced in January 2009; the persons who sit on this committee; if non-profit organisations in the sector can be represented on this committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12860/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Following Budget 2009, I announced that a review will be conducted in 2009 of non-statutory agencies which provide services for persons with disabilities. The Review will consider a number of issues, including structure, overheads and coherence of and synergies within the sector with a view to assessing the scope for further efficiencies. This exercise will be undertaken with the focus at all times on the needs of people with disabilities.

The Review has now been incorporated within a wider programme of VFM Reviews being conducted under the supervision of the Department of Finance and will include the statutory as well as the non-statutory sectors. Discussions are ongoing between the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Finance with regard to the terms of reference and scope of the Review. These discussions are expected to conclude shortly. The Steering Group for the Review will be selected on the basis of expertise rather than on a representative basis.