Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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602. To ask the Minister for Health further to parliamentary Questions Nos. 499 and 522 of 10 December, if he will address the specific issues raised with regard to the lack of supports available for teenagers who have suffered a brain injury; if his attention has been drawn to the lack of a dedicated adolescent rehabilitation unit for teenagers who have suffered an acquired brain injury; if his attention has been drawn to the lack of support group or organisation for affected teenagers; if his attention has been drawn to the devastation caused to teenagers as a result of these injuries; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a teenage brain can recover swifter and better if the correct supports are put in place; if he is aware that the organisations referred to in the reply do not cater for teenagers as was erroneously stated; if he will take immediate action to tackle this issue and provide for an adolescent support unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54149/13]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has recognised the need to increase the level of consistency and standardisation in the way both early intervention services and services for school-aged children with disabilities are delivered. The HSE is currently engaged in a reconfiguration of existing therapy resources to geographic based teams for children (0 - 18 years). A number of national and regional implementation groups have been set up to progress this plan over the coming years. This measure will have a positive impact on the provision of clinical services for all children and young adults requiring access to health related supports.

As I indicated to the Deputy in my reply of the 10th December, within Disability Services, the two main organisations that are funded to meet the needs of people with acquired brain injury nationally are Acquired Brain Injury Ireland and Headway Ireland. Some other organisations such as Cheshire Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association also provide services for people with acquired brain injury.

Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABII) works mainly with adults (18-65 years) whose main disability is acquired brain injury, although ABII is also involved in pilot projects developing services for children and runs parenting programmes for parents of children with acquired brain injury in Dublin. ABII provides a range of flexible and tailor-made services, including assisted living services, home and community services, home and community rehabilitation services, day resource services, rehabilitation support, case management, education programmes and individual development supports. Headway provides a range of services to people with acquired brain injury (16 - 65 years), including day services, a psychology and social work service, community integration programmes, supported employment, family support and rehabilitation training programmes.

Neuro-rehabilitation services for children are provided by the HSE or by the non-statutory sector acting in partnership with the HSE. These services are provided primarily through the tertiary services offered by the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH), Enable Ireland and the Central Remedial Clinic. The NRH currently has 8 dedicated beds for children who have a requirement for rehabilitation.

Within the HSE primary and community services, neuro-rehabilitation services are provided through the Early Intervention and Children's Therapy Teams, which provide assessment and intervention services to children with a wide range of disabilities. The HSE is committed to the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Report - National Policy & Strategy for the Provision of Neuro-rehabilitation Services in Ireland 2011 - 2015 and to the development of the Rehabilitation Medicine Programme. In this regard, both clinical and executive leads have been assigned and a national working group drawn from the various stakeholders has been established and is currently developing an implementation plan.

In relation to services specifically for children and teenagers with acquired brain injury, the Report concludes that the best interests of children with neurological presentations and associated needs are best served by including such children within a children's framework and recommends that children's needs be included in the work being done through the reconfiguration of paediatric services. HSE Disability Services managers work with service users and their families to provide an appropriate level of service during the transition phase to adult services, according to eligibility for specific services and within available resources.