Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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654. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to reinstate the transport services for service users once they transition into adults at 18 years of age; the way he plans to fund the services; the savings his Department has made since the termination of the transport services since 2012; the areas to which this funding was reallocated to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22507/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Transport of school-going children, including those with a disability, is the responsibility of the Department of Education and Skills. The provision of transport to adults with a disability attending HSE-funded day services is not a core health service, and the HSE endeavours to ensure that all service users access public transport, including rural transport services, if possible. In recognition of the challenges which some service users experience in relation to accessible transport, some transport is provided by disability service providers on a case by case basis as resources allow. Service providers are continuously reviewing their transport arrangements to ensure that they are used as effectively and equitably as possible within available resources, and will continue to keep the matter under review.