Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied regarding the adequacy of respite care for parents and carers of children and adults with special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26689/09]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Multi Annual Investment Programme for Disability Services makes provision for the development of specific high priority disability services including the creation of additional residential, respite places and day care places each year between 2006 and 2009 for people with intellectual disability and autism and additional residential care and home support services for people with physical and sensory disabilities.

In the period 2006 to 2008 over €425m has been allocated to the HSE under the Multi Annual Investment Programme for disability services. The Multi Annual Investment Programme, had by the end of 2008, provided for approximately:

?804 new residential places;

?307 new respite places and

?1,863 new day places

for people with intellectual disabilities and

?275 new residential places and

?911,626 extra home care / personal assistance hours

for people with physical and sensory disabilities.

In light of the current financial circumstances, no additional funding was allocated under the Multi-Annual Investment Programme in 2009. However, in Budget 2009 an additional €20m was allocated for health and education services for children with special educational needs. €10m of this allocation will be to the Health Service Executive (HSE), and €10m to the Department of Education and Science, to enable the services provided to children with special educational needs to be enhanced and strengthened.

The Deputy may be aware that carers who are looking after someone who is in need of support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness can apply for various allowances and benefits to support their families from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The Deputy is advised that further information on the eligibility criteria and rates of payment for carers allowance and respite care grants is available from the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

As the Deputy's question also relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.