Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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420. To ask the Minister for Health if steps can be taken to appoint a social worker to liaise with the parents of a person (details supplied) to ensure their needs are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39359/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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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. Under the reconfiguration of children’s disability services, it is recommended that social workers will be ‘core’ members of the Children's Disability Network Teams. However, not every child with a disability would need the services of a social worker. In disability services, key workers/case managers are often assigned to individual service users to provide information and support to both the service user and their carer/family. The key worker/case manager would be part of a multi-disciplinary team and would work with the service user and other HSE/Voluntary agencies to facilitate a person-centred and a family-centred approach to the service user’s needs.

However, as the Deputy's question relates to service matters and an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.