Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Health the progress made to date in implementing the programme for Government commitment to put the standards for residential care in respect of persons with disabilities on a statutory footing; if this will extend to those providing home care facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1647/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, residential services for people with disabilities are currently unregulated. This is acknowledged as a matter of concern. The legislative framework for the regulation of these services is provided for by the Health Act 2007, which envisages a role for the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, in this regard. Part 7 of the Act outlines the role of the Office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services in terms of registering and inspecting designated centres for people with disabilities.

HIQA has prepared and published standards for this sector, which outline what is expected of a provider of services and what a person with a disability, his or her family, and the public can expect to receive from residential care services. They clearly set out what a quality safe residential service for people with disabilities should be and support the delivery of person-centred care in this sector.

The Government is committed to ensuring that vulnerable people with disabilities in residential services are safeguarded and protected, and that their quality of life is enhanced. With this in mind, the current Programme for Government commits to mandatory standards for this sector and inspections of services by HIQA. As I announced on 16 June last, discussions have begun between the Department of Health and HIQA to progress this commitment. Given the complex nature of residential service provision for people with disabilities, ranging from congregated settings to dispersed housing in the community, careful consideration is being given to designing the most appropriate regulatory model and this work is ongoing. A target date of January 2013 has been provisionally set for the commencement of the proposed regulatory scheme.

Part 7 of the Health Act 2007 does not provide for this arrangement to be extended to home care facilities.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 221: To ask the Minister for Health the progress made to date in implementing the programme for Government commitment to introducing personal budgets for persons accessing disability services; when it is expected personal budgets will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1648/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The funding of disability services by the Department of Health is the subject of a detailed Value for Money and Policy Review as part of the Government's Value for Money Reviews for the period 2009 to 2011.

As part of the overall VFM review, a separate Expert Reference Group on Disability Policy was established to look specifically at existing disability policy and whether it needs to be changed to better meet the expectations and objectives of people with disabilities. As part of this review, a public consultation process on existing disability services was also undertaken which confirmed that people with disabilities and their families, more than anything else, are looking for more choice in the services they receive and more control over how they access them.

The report proposes a very significant reframing of disability services towards a model of individualised supports, underpinned by mainstreaming of all public services. On this basis, State funding would be allocated based on an independent assessment of individual needs. Following the needs assessments, individual support plans would then be drawn up and individualised budgets allocated from which the supports and services needed would be purchased.

A number of mechanisms are proposed to achieve this, including a broker system where the person has the choice and control but the broker administers the budget and commissions supports and services on their behalf, or direct payments where the person manages the budget and purchases the supports themselves.

The Group's final report has already been the subject of both internal consultation within the Department of Health and external consultation with other Government Departments. The Report was also released in October last for the public and interested parties to have their say on the future direction of disability policy in this country.

The Department received 94 submissions from individuals and organisations. The submissions from the public consultation on the Disability Review are currently being considered by officials in the Department. Following this exercise, it is my intention to look at the VFM Review, which is nearing completion, and the Disability Review together and in conjunction with Minister Reilly to ensure that proposals for the future of disability services are brought to Government.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the current review of disability spending, and details on the group of persons conducting the review; the manner in which they were appointed; the remit of the review group; the timeframe for the completion of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1649/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Value for Money and Policy Review (VFM&PR) of the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Disability Services in Ireland is being undertaken in the context of the Government's Value for Money & Policy Review Initiative 2009-2011 and is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2012. The review, which encompasses statutory and non-statutory service providers, is assessing how well current services for people with disabilities are meeting their objectives and how the future planning and development of services should be supported and delivered.

As part of the overall VFM review, a separate Expert Reference Group on Disability Policy was established to look specifically at existing disability policy and whether it needs to be changed to better meet the expectations and objectives of people with disabilities. The Group's final report has been the subject of internal consultation within the Department of Health and with other Government Departments. During November 2011 it was released for public consultation and submissions received on foot of this are now being considered.

On completion, it is my intention to look at both reports together and in conjunction with Minister Reilly to ensure that proposals for the future of our disability services are brought to Government for its consideration and publication in due course.

A Steering Group has been established to oversee the VFM&PR. The Steering Group is chaired by an independent chairperson, Mr. Laurence Crowley, and has two other independent members, as well as members drawn from the Disability Sector, Department of Health, the Department of Finance, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE. Members of the group were appointed in line with the Department of Finance Value for Money and Policy Review Initiative 2009-2011 guidelines. The Members of the Steering Group are:

The Terms of Reference for the review are as follows:

1. Identify the objectives, which have pertained to date, for the disability services programme in the health sector.

2. Examine the current validity of those objectives and their compatibility with the overall strategy of the Department of Health, the National Disability Strategy and Towards 2016.

3. Define the outputs associated with the programme activity and identify the level and trend of those outputs.

4. Identify any issues with the availability of information regarding current outputs and outcomes.

5. Examine the extent to which the programme's objectives have been achieved, and comment on the effectiveness with which they have been achieved.

6. Identify the level and trend of costs and staffing resources associated with the disability services and thus comment on the efficiency with which it has achieved its objectives. Compare overall costs, including wage costs and non-pay costs, across the sector [both statutory and non-statutory].

7. Having regard to the range of providers of disability services, examine whether there is scope to minimise overheads, including administrative costs, management structures, research, advertising, profile-building, and infrastructure costs.

8. Evaluate the degree to which the objectives warrant the allocation of public funding on a current and ongoing basis and examine the scope for alternative policy or organisational approaches to achieving these objectives on a more efficient and/or effective basis.

9. Specify potential future performance indicators that might be used to better monitor the performance of the disability services programme.

10. A final robust report containing findings and recommendations in relation to TORs 1 to 9 above.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Health the amount spent by the State in providing services for persons with disabilities for each of the years 2007 to 2011, inclusive; the amount which was paid to private service providers for this purpose in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1650/12]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Health the level of consultation undertaken between him and private service providers for persons with disabilities to ensure that value for money is obtained; the basis on which private service providers are evaluated; if he is able to track the amount spent on service provision for the end user; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1651/12]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Health the mechanisms available to him to prevent an unnecessary duplication of services, among disability service providers serving the same catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1652/12]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 to 225, inclusive, together. Specialist disability services are provided in a variety of community and residential settings in partnership with service users, their families and carers, and a range of statutory, non-statutory, voluntary and community groups. Some services are delivered directly by the Health Service Executive (HSE) and include basic health services as well as assessment, rehabilitation, community based care and residential care. Most specialist disability services are provided by voluntary organisations with funding from the HSE. The integral role of the non-statutory, voluntary and community groups is of particular relevance in the disability sector. These agencies provide a very significant and broad range of services in partnership with and on behalf of the HSE.

The statutory basis for this is Sections 38 and 39 of the Health Act 2004, which is now the primary legislative provision under which funding is made to non-statutory bodies in the State by the HSE. There are over 500 diverse voluntary providers delivering disability services on behalf of the State. However the core group of providers which deliver the majority of residential, day, respite and personal assistants services amount to roughly 75 organisations. Arising out of a C&AG Report in this area the HSE introduced a new governance framework in 2009. The Service Level Arrangement or Grant Aid Agreement between the HSE and the Service provider governs the funding relationship between the relevant bodies and formalises a relationship between both parties which seeks to address the needs of each in an open way. It ensures that robust and equitable agreements are put in place based on a formal specification of services to be provided in return for funding and agree clearly defined service levels, outcomes and performance indicators.

The HSE spends approximately €1.5 billion on specialist disability services through the arrangements outlined above and, in this context I have asked the HSE to answer the specific queries you have raised and to reply to you directly.