Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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106. To ask the Minister for Health if he will withdraw all cuts to front-line disability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42745/14]

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 to enhance their quality of life.

The Health Service Executive National Service Plan 2014 and accompanying Operational Plan for the Social Care Division outline the quantum of specialist disability services, the key reform initiatives and the additional investment in 2014, all of which provide for significant progress in furthering 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, which were outlined in the VFM and Policy Review published in 2012, are being 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 consultative and programme implementation structures.

The VFM Review identified fundamental issues that need to be addressed in the way in which HSE-funded disability services are managed and operated, and lays the groundwork for the introduction of a significant restructuring of the Disability Services Programme. As well as migration from an approach which is predominantly organised around group-based service delivery towards a model of person-centred, individually chosen, supports, the VFM Review also highlighted the need for greater efficiencies in the use of resources.

VFM efficiency targets of €5 million were identified this year in the National Service Plan. In order to arrive at a fair and equitable allocation of these efficiency targets, the Social Care Division of the HSE has been assessing the capability of the voluntary disability providers to implement the necessary measures.

In recognition of the time required to complete this work I understand that only 50% of the 2014 requirement, i.e. €2.5 million, is being assigned to agencies this year. I have been assured that the HSE will continue to work with disability agencies to ensure that efficiencies are achieved without impacting on service provision.