Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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195. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting times in the assessment-of-need process under the Disability Act 2005 in Roscommon primary community continuing care; a breakdown of the length of time it takes from receipt of an assessment request by the Health Service Executive to the issuing of a service statement, within six plus to nine, nine plus to 12, 12 plus to 18, 18 plus to 24, 24 plus to 30, 30 plus to 36 and 36 plus months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43361/15]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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196. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting times in the assessment of need process under the Disability Act 2005 in Galway primary community continuing care; the length of time it takes from receipt of an assessment request by the Health Service Executive to the issuing of a service statement, within six plus to nine, nine plus to 12, 12 plus to 18, 18 plus to 24, 24 plus to 30, 30 plus to 36, and 36 plus months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43362/15]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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197. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting times in the assessment of need process under the Disability Act 2005 nationally; the length of time it takes from receipt of an assessment request by the Health Service Executive to the issuing of a service statement, within six plus to nine, nine plus to 12, 12 plus to 18, 18 plus to 24, 24 plus to 30, 30 plus to 36, and 36 plus months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43363/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 197, inclusive, together.

Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 was commenced on 1 June 2007 in respect of children aged under 5 years. In 2008, the then Government decided, in the light of financial circumstances, to defer further implementation of the Disability Act 2005 and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. However, in light of legal advice following a ruling of the High Court, children born after 1 June 2002 are being treated by the Health Service executive as eligible to apply for an assessment under the Act. Part 2 of the 2005 Act provides for an assessment of the needs of eligible applicants, occasioned by their disability, to be commenced within three months of receipt of an application and completed within a further three months.

The HSE recognises that it faces significant challenges in respect of meeting the statutory time-frames which apply to the assessment of need process, given the number and complexity of cases, and has taken a number of measures to address the issue. While any delay in assessment or intervention for any child is not desirable, it should be noted that the assessment process under the Disability Act can take place in parallel with any intervention which is identified as necessary.

Following the publication of a National Disability Authority report commissioned by the Department of Health and the HSE, a major emphasis is being placed on reconfiguring children’s disability services into integrated multi-disciplinary geographically-based early-intervention and school-aged teams under the HSE’s Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme. The key objective of this Programme is to bring about equity of access to disability services and consistency of service delivery, with a clear pathway for children with disabilities, including autism, and their families to services, regardless of where they live, what school they go to, or the nature of the individual child’s difficulties. In 2014 an additional €4 million was specifically allocated to drive implementation of the Programme, equating to approximately 80 additional therapy posts. A further additional €4m (equating to €6m in a full year) has been allocated to the Programme this year to support its ongoing implementation.

Improving access to therapy services for children in primary care and in disability services is a particular priority for the Government. Funding is being provided in 2016 to expand the provision of speech and language therapy in primary care and to support the reorganisation and expansion of speech and language and other therapies under the Progressing Disability Services Programme. Full implementation of the Programme is expected before the end of 2016.

Within this context, I have asked the HSE to provide the Deputy with the detailed operational information he has requested. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.