Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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170. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51223/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Government is fully committed to ensuring the on-going delivery of vital services and supports to people with disabilities within available resources. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has been provided with funding in the order of €1.4 billion this year to fund its 2013 disability services programme for children and adults with disabilities. This represents approximately 11.5% of overall health expenditure this year. The majority of this funding is distributed through non-statutory agencies who deliver over 80% of all disability services. There are in the region of 300 such agencies at present across the country that provide a significant and broad range of services for children and adults with disabilities in partnership with and on behalf of the HSE. It is important to note that many children and adults with a disability can be very effectively supported within mainstream child and adult health services.

Dyspraxia is a developmental co-ordination disorder that affects movement and co-ordination. For some children, dyspraxia can affect their learning capacity. For this reason they may require additional supports in the school setting to keep up with their classmates. A comprehensive range of supports is in place in our school system to supports these children.

From a health perspective, there are a number of therapies that can make it easier for people with dyspraxia to cope. These include speech and language therapy, to improve speech and communication skills, and occupational therapy to find ways to remain independent and complete everyday tasks. Such therapy services do not necessarily have to be delivered through specialist disability providers and are frequently accessed through Primary Care Teams and community therapy services.

The Dyspraxia Association is just one of a range of organisations around the country at present providing supports to specific diagnostic groups who do not receive HSE funding. Funding of these types of organisations is an issue that is under active and on-going consideration by the HSE. Pending approval of the HSE's National Service Plan for 2014, it is not possible to predict the service levels and funding to be provided next year for the disability sector.