Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health if resources will be provided to enable the implementation of the neuro rehabilitation strategy which was published in 2011; if he will take steps to protect funding for the not for profit organisations that provide neuro rehabilitation support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11584/13]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Health when the national implementation plan for the National Rehabilitation Strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11587/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 582 and 583 together.

The report "National Policy and Strategy for the Provision of Neuro-rehabilitation Services in Ireland 2011-2015", published in December 2011, is the overarching policy on neuro-rehabilitation services. There are no proposals to publish an implementation plan in respect of this report as the report includes proposals for a framework for the future of neuro-rehabilitation services in Ireland and proposals on implementing the report including key elements such as:

-guiding principles;

-implementation structure;

-methodology for implementation; and

-information and communication.

The report recognises that given the current economic climate, the focus in the short to medium term has to be on re-configuration of services, structures and resources and the enhancement of the skills and competencies required to meet the changing context. With regard to funding agencies, this Government currently provides over €1.5 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the HSE's National Service Plan for 2013. We are committed to protecting frontline services for people with disabilities to the greatest possible extent. The Minister for Health is working to ensure that protection is afforded to the disability sector and the Social Care area as a whole. While the allocation for disability services in 2013 will be reduced by 1.2%, its share of the estimate reduction, the HSE is seeking to maximise the provision of services within available resources and to maintaining a consistent level to that provided in 2012.