Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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715. To ask the Minister for Health the way his Department is improving services and increasing supports for persons with disabilities during 2017. [34034/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments in relation to improving the lives of persons with disabilities. These commitments include supporting people with disabilities to maximise their potential, removing barriers which impact on access to services, education, work or health care and providing supports at key transition points in their lives. The Programme for Government also recognises that persons with disabilities should have more control in accessing services and giving them greater independence and choice to better fit their needs.

Funding of €1.69 billion was allocated by the Health Service Executive (HSE) for disability services in the 2017 National Service Plan. The following table outlines the quantum of services to be provided.

In addition, the HSE is committed to protecting front-line services for people with disabilities, with targeted improvement in priority areas:

- The establishment of a Task Force on Personalised Budgets;

- The allocation of an additional €10 million in 2017 for the provision of services for 1,500 young people leaving school and rehabilitative training this year;

- The reconfiguration of residential services, supported by €20 million in capital funding and to be further supported by the Service Reform Fund;

- Quality improvements to increase compliance with National Standards for Residential Centres for Children and Adults with Disabilities; and

- Over 2,700 inspections of residential centres for people with disabilities conducted by the Health Information Quality Authority since regulation began in November 2013.

The Programme for Government is just one component of the wider Government policy in supporting persons with disabilities. The forthcoming National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021, will also form a key part of driving Government policy in this area. The aim of the Strategy is to significantly improve the lives of people with disabilities in a practical sense and to create the best possible opportunities to allow them to fulfil their potential.

I can assure the House that the Government's commitments to improving the lives of persons with disability will not end with the publication of the Strategy, and I am committed to ensuring that the Strategy results in real and concrete change for the better for children and adults with disabilities.