Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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116. To ask the Minister for Health the options open to a family (details supplied) in County Cork who are seeking to access an appropriate adult day service or an appropriate course for an adult with special needs. [2371/16]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Government policy is to enable young people with disabilities to develop the skills they will need to live independent lives to the greatest extent possible and to receive the supports they need in order to achieve this. For most young people with disabilities, the hope is that they will progress directly to further education, vocational training or employment. Responsibility for the provision of services and supports in these areas lies with the Government Departments and agencies that have responsibility for providing these services to the whole population. Young people with disabilities who need assistance with gaining or retaining employment are assisted to do so under the Department of Social Protection’s Supported Employment programme. Other activation supports are also provided by the Department of Social Protection. The young person referred to by the Deputy, and his family, may wish to contact their local Intreo office for further details. Vocational training, including vocational training for adults with disabilities, is provided by SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards and I understand that Intreo is also the point of contact for information and advice in this regard.

Some young people who have more complex support needs will require life-skills training or day supports provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE, through its Occupational Guidance Service, works with young people with disabilities and their families to identify training needs and explore suitable options.

One of the most significant projects currently being progressed by the HSE is the implementation of the person-centred approach to day services outlined in New Directions - Report on the National Working Group for the Review of HSE funded Adult Day Services. The New Directionspolicy proposes that health-funded day services for adults with disabilities should be based on the principles of person-centeredness, community inclusion, active citizenship and high quality service provision. The HSE is committed to providing services in a more individualised and person-centred way to people availing of day services, whose service should in future take the form of individualised and personally chosen outcome-focused supports.

Each Local Health Office area in the Health Service Executive (HSE) has a dedicated Disability Manager to coordinate the delivery of services to people with disabilities. It is open to the individual and his family to discuss his options with regard to health-funded day services and life-skills training with the Disability Manager for their area who can be contacted at: Local Health Office, Area 4, Hospital Grounds, Newberry, Mallow, Co. Cork, tel. 022 31855.