Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
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93. To ask the Minister for Health the status of funding and services for survivors of severe acquired brain injury, including those currently provided, and the number of patients affected; and if he will improve these services in line with best practice with international agreements such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. [3943/16]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Brain injury health services are provided across a range of settings, by different organisations and by many health professionals and carers. The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides for the health needs of those affected by brain injury through a range of measures. The HSE Clinical Strategy and Programmes Directorate have a number of clinical programmes working in the area of neurology, including Neurology, Epilepsy, Stroke and Rehabilitation Medicine. The HSE also provides services for those with brain injury through Primary Care Teams with community based therapy services and personal social services, often funded through partner agencies in the non-statutory sector. In addition, the HSE provides substantial funding to a number of organisations such as Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Headway, Enable Ireland, Epilepsy Ireland among others, to provide supports and services to people with a neurological condition.

In August 2015, my colleague, the Minister for Health, announced an additional €15 million for the redevelopment of the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dun Laoghaire. This allocation will enable the NRH and the HSE to proceed with a new 120 bed building on the Dun Laoghaire campus. The redeveloped facility will be purpose built to accommodate integrated therapy services, hydrotherapy and sports facilities.

The Government recognises that neurological illness or injury has significant implications for the individual and their family and impacts on their health, social, educational, vocational and recreational participation. It is important that the continuum of services and supports required are made available by the health system and by those other State agencies to provide specific services, consistent with their statutory remit. On the health side, waiting times, access, treatment and quality of care are priorities for reform for this Government, despite budgetary constraints.

I have also referred the question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy in relation to funding and numbers. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.