Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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337. To ask the Minister for Health the funding provided to date in 2016 for home respite initiatives for the development of community based home respite initiatives within the disability sector. [40531/16]

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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339. To ask the Minister for Health the number of disability service users offered respite breaks with a host family in 2016 [40533/16]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 and 339 together.

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide 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. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability. €1 million was identified in the Health Service Executive (HSE) 2016 National Service Pan for alternative models of respite care.

As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.