Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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594. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the progress of the 2011 national strategy and policy for the provision of neurorehabilitation services; and his views on the recent report on the Neurological Alliance of Ireland's survey findings that 42% of respondents have found it more difficult to access speech and language therapy services over the past three years, 45% of respondents have found it more difficult to access respite care over the past three years, 46% of respondents have found it more difficult to access appropriate day services over the past three years, and 47% of respondents have found it more difficult to access aid for specialist appliances or equipment over the past three years. [17556/14]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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612. To ask the Minister for Health if reform of neurorehabilitation care will be included as part of universal health insurance; if it will address the long waiting lists, including up to a year for patients in comas or semi-responsive states, and the fact there are only seven rehabilitation programmes when the Neurological Alliance of Ireland states the country needs 26; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17678/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 594 and 612 together.

Neuro-rehabilitation health services are provided across a range of settings, by different organisations and by many health professionals and carers. The Government has a plan, with a series of recommendations, under the National Policy and Strategy for the Provision of Neuro-Rehabilitation Services in Ireland. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has established a steering group to develop an implementation plan for the Strategy working with the National Clinical Programme on Rehabilitation Medicine.

In relation to specialist disability support services, the HSE will spend €1.4 billion and employ a staff level of approximately 15,000 whole time equivalents in 2014 to deliver its Disability Services Programme. The HSE is embarking on a large scale reform programme, which will transform our model of service to a community-based model of person-centred care. This Government is also committed to a significant strengthening of primary care services. The HSE has provided additional funding and filled 200 additional primary care team posts including public health nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists.

The White Paper on Universal Health Insurance (UHI), published by Government on 2 April 2014, indicates that under UHI citizens will have access to a package of primary and acute hospital services, including acute mental health services. Decisions on the composition of the future health basket in will be informed by the Expert Commission which the Government will establish shortly. The Commission will be tasked with providing a series of costed options to the Government on the range of services to be included within the UHI standard package of services. It will provide details on the nature and type of the service including any conditions and targeting that should apply in relation to coverage of services. It will also advise on the services to be provided within the overall health basket. The inclusion of nuero-rehabilitation care services in the standard package of UHI will be considered as part of this process. It is the Government's intention that UHI will be introduced by 2019.

The Government recognises that neurological illness or injury has significant implications for the individual and their family, which impacts on their social, educational, vocational and recreational participation. Waiting times, access, treatment and quality of care, are a priority for reform for this Government, despite budgetary constraints.