Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Progress is continuing on the complex multi-year project to reform disability services, as recommended in the Value for Money (VFM) and Policy Review of Disability Services. Project governance and management structures have been put in place and, as the Deputy has indicated, a range of demonstration projects have been initiated as proof of concept. A total of 110 demonstration projects have been grant-aided by the Genio Trust, a non-profit body which receives funding from the HSE to foster innovation, during the period 2010 – 2013 broken down as follows:

Year:	Number of Projects:	Total amount awarded:
2010	31	€2,150,456
2011	10	€1,063,976
2012	42	€5,428,170
2013	27	€2,370,496

The projects will provide a substantial contribution towards the transition to the new model of person-centred supports and have been targeted in the following areas:

- Projects to move/keep people out of institutional care by supporting them to live as independently as possible in the community, resulting in institutional closure;

- Active integration of people with disabilities into mainstream work, third level education and leisure activities;

- Measures to strengthen and build networks of support comprising family, friends and neighbours offering alternative respite;

- Empowerment of people with disabilities to take control of their own lives and strengthening of strategic advocacy particularly on the part of people with disabilities.

Detailed evaluation on certain targeted projects has been completed by Genio. Taking into account the number and diversity of the demonstration projects however, a more extensive evaluation process will be initiated in 2015 by a Working Group reporting directly to the VFM Steering Group.