Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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219. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a full-time residential placement used currently by a patient four nights a week cannot be shared by another patient willing to use it three nights a week; the number of times that full-time care is provided and only used part time; and the amount this costs the State. [9764/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The vision for the Health Service Executive's Disability Services Programme is to contribute to the realisation of a society where people with disabilities are supported, as far as possible, to participate to their full potential in economic and social life, and have access to a range of quality personal social supports and services including respite care to enhance their quality of life.

The Health Service Executive National Service Plan 2014 and the recently published 2014 Operational Plan for the Social Care Division outline the quantum of specialist services, the key reform initiatives and the additional investment in 2014 which it has assured me will give effect to this vision in 2014. The HSE will spend €1.4 billion and employ a staff level of approximately 15,000 whole time equivalents in 2014 to provide specified levels of services.

In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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220. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding treatment in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9765/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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221. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of vacancies in all early intervention teams in counties Monaghan, Cavan, Meath and Louth; if he will provide a county breakdown of same; the length of time each position has been vacant; his plan to fill these vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9768/14]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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222. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists to be seen by members of intervention teams in counties Monaghan, Cavan, Meath and Louth; the average waiting time on lists broken down by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9769/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together.

The Government is committed to the provision and development of services for children with a disability, including early intervention services, within available resources. While these services are in the process of being reconfigured under the HSE’s National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years), it is important to note that all HSE areas have significant services in place for children with disabilities aged up to eighteen years. These are provided directly by the HSE or by voluntary service providers funded by the HSE.

The aim of the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme is to achieve a national, unified approach to delivering disability health services so that there is a clear pathway to services for all children, regardless of where they live, what school they go to or the nature of their disability. An additional €4m has been specifically allocated in 2014 to drive implementation of the Programme. This equates to approximately 80 therapy posts.

Almost 60 geographic-based multidisciplinary teams have been established to date under the Programme as part of the reconfigured service model. It is hoped that a further 30 teams will be reconfigured this year, bringing the overall total to approximately 90 teams by the end of 2014. These figures reflect all children's disability teams that provide early intervention and school age services to children aged up to eighteen years. The transition to this new model is taking place on a phased basis and, importantly, includes consultation and engagement with stakeholders, such as service users and their families.

Within this context I have asked the HSE to provide the Deputy with the detailed operational information requested concerning early intervention services for children with disabilities living in counties Monaghan, Cavan, Meath and Louth.