Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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128. To ask the Minister for Health his views that substantial increases in waiting lists for residential services, respite and other supports can only be dealt with by additional investment. [36106/14]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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129. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36109/14]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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130. To ask the Minister for Health if he will improve the resourcing of disability services and other supports available in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36141/14]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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131. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the growing gap (details supplied) between the demand for supports for persons with intellectual disabilities and their families and the resources available to meet them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36151/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 to 131, inclusive, together.

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 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 disability 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. An additional investment of €14m in 2014 also has been made to address deficits in disability services, a reform programme to transform services to a community based model of person centred supports, and to focus on the implementation of the Health Information and Quality Authority standards for residential services for people with a disability. These developments and reform proposals will be carried out in an environment of effective communications and engagement with all those involved in services, including people with a disability through the HSE's National Consultative Forum.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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132. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the Health Information and Quality Authority quality standards for service providers (details supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36156/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Programme for Government committed to putting National Standards for Residential Services for People with Disabilities on a statutory footing, to ensure that services could be inspected by HIQA. This commitment was fulfilled when two regulations, one relating to care and support and the second relating to registration issues, were approved and signed by the Minister for Health, with the scheme commencing on 1st November 2013.

The introduction of registration and inspection represents a significant advance in terms of delivering consistent and high quality services for people with disabilities in residential services. The purpose of the regulations is to safeguard and support the delivery of person-centred care to vulnerable people of any age who are receiving residential care services and ensure that their health, well-being and quality of life is promoted and protected. This will empower providers to deliver even higher quality standards.

Compliance with the HIQA standards is a requirement under the Service Level Arrangements (SLA) between the HSE and voluntary service providers in the disability sector. To date, HIQA has published over 600 inspection reports and the lessons learned from them are continuing to improve our wider services and ensure that our clients are safe, secure and happy in their care.

I am informed that a number of service providers have raised concerns with the HSE on the additional costs arising in meeting the HIQA regulations. I understand that the HSE are gathering information on a national basis in relation to the costs of meeting the National Standards for Residential Services for children and Adults with Disabilities and that the matter will come under consideration in the context of framing the HSE's estimates for its 2015 Service Plan requirements.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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133. To ask the Minister for Health if he will take steps to ensure the resources required to enable an organisation (details supplied) in County Longford to provide vital and necessary services in the disability and learning area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35971/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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As the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.