Written answers

Wednesday, 20 April 2016

Department of Health

Services for People with Disabilities

Photo of Billy KelleherBilly Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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338. To ask the Minister for Health when the €8 million allocated for therapy services for young people will be drawn down; if he expects the full €8 million to be spent in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7583/16]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The HSE has been notified that the approved level of net non-capital expenditure for 2016 is €12,931 million. In addition, the HSE has been advised that a further sum of €58.5 million is being held back by the Department for specific initiatives as outlined in the 2016 National Service Plan. This includes €8 million for initiatives in therapy services for young people. The two initiatives are the continued implementation of the Progressing Disabilities Services Programme, including development of early intervention services to facilitate the integration of children with disabilities in mainstream preschool settings (€4 million), and a primary care speech and language waiting-list initiative (€4million).

Detailed plans for both of these initiatives have been received by my Department and are under active consideration. Once these plans are agreed, it is expected that my Department will fund the costs as required. As noted in the HSE service plan, the HSE anticipates generating €20m in time related saving on a once off basis from the initiatives totalling €58.5m.

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