Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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397. To ask the Minister for Health when a clinical assessment of a site (details supplied) will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32314/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Programme for a Partnership Governmentincludes a commitment to publish a plan for advancing Neuro-Rehabilitation services in the community. The Health Service Executive's (HSE's) National Service Plan for 2017 contains a priority to finalise and progress implementation of the framework for the Neuro-Rehabilitation Strategy. The HSE Social Care Division and Clinical Programme and Strategy Division are working in tandem to progress implementation of the Strategy.

I understand that the HSE is aware of the proposal for an acquired brain injury step-down unit in Longford. However, the HSE is obliged to consider proposals for specialised residential services for people with acquired brain injury, such as that referred to by the Deputy, in the broader context of the finalisation of the implementation framework for the Neuro-rehabilitation Strategy. In this regard, the HSE has carried out a mapping exercise to establish a clear picture of where specialist rehabilitation services are currently being delivered and where the demands are for that service. The results of this exercise are now being collated.

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for a more detailed, direct reply to the Deputy.