Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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542. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a personal budget for persons with disabilities to allow them to fund their own services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37160/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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One of the Government's key objectives is to provide people with disabilities with services and supports which will empower them to live independent lives, provide them with greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. To achieve this aim, the Programme for Government provided a commitment to the establishment of a Task Force on Personalised Budgets.

The Task Force has two components - a Strategy Group and an Advisory and Consultative Group - and its remit is to make recommendations on a personalised budgets model which will give people with disabilities more control in accessing health funded personal social services, giving them greater independence and choice in accessing services which best meet their individual needs.

The Task Force comprising both the Strategy Group and Advisory and Consultative Groups met in plenary session on 13th October and is now undertaking an ambitious work programme. The Task Force aims to recommend an approach and a suggested implementation strategy for the Government’s consideration by the end of 2017.