Written answers

Tuesday, 19 June 2012

Department of Health

Services for People with Disabilities

8:00 pm

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 618: To ask the Minister for Health the measures being undertaken to secure adequate levels of services for persons with disabilities in Cregg House Sligo, in view of the fact that the level of funding they have been offered under the service level agreement is €1.3million under the amount required to run the service in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29283/12]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Wisdom Services is a voluntary body operated by the Daughters of Wisdom and provides services for people with a disability in the North Western region. It supports over 200 service users with 111 on campus, 75 in the community and 20 day attendees. I was very disappointed to learn that the Daughters of Wisdom, who operate Wisdom Services, have advised the HSE that they intend to withdraw from the provision of services on behalf of the HSE. The HSE have been working with Wisdom Services for some time to address their financial concerns and identify opportunities for efficiencies and savings, through potential new combinations of service delivery in the north-west area. Wisdom Services has a cost containment plan for 2012, which has had some success but, despite detailed engagement by the HSE with their management, I regret that Wisdom Services has now decided to withdraw from service provision.

I would like to reassure the families of the children and adults of people with disabilities that their current level of service will continue to be provided. I am requesting the HSE to work with Wisdom Services to ensure continuity of service for all clients while a transition process is being put in place. I understand that Wisdom Services have written to families of service users and to staff, to reassure them of their co-operation in this process. I would like to thank Wisdom Services for their dedication and commitment to providing services to children and adults in the North West since 1955. The HSE will now commence a detailed assessment of all aspects of Wisdom Service operations in order to arrive at a mutually agreed resolution on the continuation of services to the clients of Wisdom Services, and in particular to ensure that the service users will continue to receive the care and support they require. I understand that early discussions are planned with the management of Wisdom Services.

Wisdom Services were allocated €15.5 million by HSE in 2012 and has been funded consistently over the years. In addition, Wisdom Services were the beneficiaries of 38% of all intellectual disability development monies from this HSE area in the period 2006 to 2011, along with additional capital funding in this period. This compared favourably with the percentage of ID clients from this area covered by their services. Accordingly, I do not accept that this service has been under-funded, allowing for the necessary reductions that have been applied evenly to all service providers in the last 2-3 years. I would like to thank Wisdom Services for their work in providing services to children and adults over the years and I would urge all involved to work closely to ensure that the needs of service users and their families are given priority.

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