Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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368. To ask the Minister for Health the reason there is no database for persons with disabilities such as autism in operation; how it is possible to forward-plan the provision of services in the absence of such data. [39082/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Specialist Disability services are provided by or on behalf of the Health Service Executive ( HSE) to enable children and adults with a disability to achieve their full potential and maximise independence, including living as independently as possible in the community. Disability services are provided in a variety of community and residential settings in partnership with service users, their families and carers and a range of statutory, non-statutory, voluntary and community groups. Voluntary agencies provide the majority of services in partnership with or on behalf of the HSE.

In planning for the delivery of intellectual disability services, the HSE and disability service providers maintain the National Intellectual Disability Database (NIDD). The NIDD, established in 1995, provides a comprehensive database for decision-making in relation to the planning, funding and management of services for people with an intellectual disability. It provides a set of information which outlines the specialised health services currently used or needed by people with an intellectual disability. Participation in the database is voluntary and not every individual in Ireland with an intellectual disability is availing of or requiring a specialised disability health and personal social service.

A key recommendation of the report of the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services related to the need for integrated management and information systems to support the business and service needs of the disability sector and service users. A Working Group established under this programme of reform is involved in the development of a new information system which seeks to build on existing databases, with a view to overcoming their limitations. The experience of stakeholders and their contribution to the consultation process, will be vital to the development of a robust information system, to support those business and service needs into the future.

I have no plans to establish a database for children born with any specific condition, as services are provided based on identified needs, not on the basis of a diagnosed condition.