Written answers
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Department of Health
Services for People with Disabilities
Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the amount of demographic funding to provide emergency placements and services for school leavers with intellectual disabilities; the same figure last year, the number of children who benefitted from the funding last year; the projected number this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37124/12]
Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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In 2011, €10 million was allocated to address demography pressures in the following areas: day services, including services for young people leaving school and graduating from rehabilitative (Life Skills) training (RT); residential places; respite services; and personal assistance hours. The funding was allocated across the 4 Health Service Executive (HSE) regions based on their percentage of population.
HSE Region | Allocation 2011 | No. of Day Places | No. of Residential Places | No. of Residential Enhanced Places | Personal Assistance Hours | No. of Respite Service places | No. of Respite Centre Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DML | €2,838,000 | 158.00 | 6 | 0 | 7,339 | 0 | 0 |
| DNE | €2,272,000 | 141.37 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| South | €2,559,000 | 82.92 | 9.26 | 3.357 | 8,276.86 | 3.3429 | 3.357 |
| West | €2,331,000 | 132.00 | 6.27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | €10,000,000 | 514.29 | 23.53 | 6.357 | 15,616 | 3.3429 | 6.357 |
In 2012, disability services are required to cater for demographic pressures, such as new services for school leavers and emergency residential placements, from within their existing budgets.
Service providers and the HSE have come together under the auspices of National Consultative Forum to identify how the needs of young people leaving school or exiting RT this year can be responded to within available resources. Significant progress has been made and there are many excellent examples of collaborative working between providers, and between providers and the HSE, in responding innovatively to the needs of individuals. The HSE has received requests for 695 places for school leavers and 392 places in respect of RT graduates in 2012. To date 641 school leavers (92%) and 377 RT graduates (96%) have been accommodated with an appropriate service.
The health service as a whole has to operate within the parameters of funding available to it and given the current economic environment, this has become a major challenge for all stakeholders, including the HSE, voluntary service providers, services users and their families. HSE Managers and disability agencies continue to work collaboratively in identifying solutions for the remaining 54 school leavers and the 15 individuals progressing from RT who still require a suitable service.
Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the amount of funding provided for voluntary service providers for those with intellectual and other disabilities; the same figure last year,; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37125/12]
Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
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