Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the membership and terms of reference of the working group to develop a national strategy for the provision of rehabilitation services and when it is expected to report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27079/10]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide further information on the working group which is developing a national strategy for the provision of rehabilitation services; the person who established the group and the members of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26891/10]

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 254 together.

The Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive (HSE) established a Working Group in July 2008 to develop a national policy and strategy for the provision of neuro-rehabilitation services. The Working Group consists of key stakeholders and experts in the field of neuro-rehabilitation and is chaired by James O'Grady, Disability Policy Advisor to the Office for Disability and Mental Health at the Department of Health and Children. Along with officials from the Department and the HSE, membership has been drawn from agencies such as the National Rehabilitation Hospital, MS Ireland, Headway, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland and BRÍ and neuro-rehabilitation practitioners including a Neurologist, Physiotherapist, Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Geriatrician, Advance Nurse Practitioner and a General Practitioner.

The Working Group's Terms of Reference included the development of an appropriate policy framework for neuro-rehabilitation and a preferred model of care for the provision of neuro-rehabilitation services. The policy development has been informed at all stages by the new delivery structures being developed by the HSE and by the realities of the economic situation, both in the short to medium term. The Group has now completed its work and the draft report is being considered by the Department and the HSE, with a view to publication in the next couple of months.