Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

343. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding investment in supports for persons with disabilities and the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40491/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

Funding of €1.69 billion was allocated by the Health Service Executive (HSE) for disability services in 2017. This represented an increased allocation of €130 million compared to the previous year. Funding in 2017 has supported the provision of a wide range of services to people with disabilities as follows:

In addition, 2017 has seen targeted improvements in a number of priority areas. These include the reconfiguration of disability residential services, supported by €20 million in capital funding and by the Service Reform Fund and improved compliance with National Standards for Residential Centres for Children and Adults with Disabilities.

As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007 and since then, successive Governments have emphasised Ireland’s strong commitment to proceed to ratification as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure all necessary legislative and administrative requirements under the Convention are met. This Government remains committed to ratification of the Convention. Before the State can ratify the Convention however, enactment of new legislation and amendment of existing legislation is required to ensure obligations will be met upon entry into force for Ireland. The previous Government published a Roadmap in October 2015, which sets out the legislative measures needed to meet those requirements, along with declarations and reservations to be entered by Ireland on ratification.

Considerable progress has already been made to overcome the remaining legislative barriers to Ireland's ratification of the Convention. The major issue at this stage is in relation to deprivation of liberty – in the case of persons in nursing homes for example, whose capacity to consent may be in doubt. This is a sensitive and important issue and we must get it right. Unfortunately, it is taking longer than expected to develop a proposal that is constitutionally sound and operationally effective and reasonable. This work is being led by the Department of Justice and Equality with the assistance of the Department of Health.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

344. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding investment in new service developments for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40492/17]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

345. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the level of unmet needs of persons with intellectual disabilities aged 55 and older; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40493/17]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

347. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether there is a model imperative to ensure that the support needs of persons with intellectual disabilities are prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40495/17]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

348. To ask the Minister for Health if he will invest €200 million in new service developments for persons with intellectual disabilities in each of the next five years commencing with budget 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40496/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 344, 345, 347 and 348 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.

Funding of €1.69 billion was allocated by the Health Service Executive (HSE) for disability services in 2017. This represented an increased allocation of €130 million compared to the previous year. Funding in 2017 has supported the provision of a wide range of services to people with disabilities as follows:

In addition, 2017 has seen targeted improvements in a number of priority areas. These include the reconfiguration of disability residential services, supported by €20 million in capital funding and by the Service Reform Fund and improved compliance with National Standards for Residential Centres for Children and Adults with Disabilities.

My Department is currently engaged in discussions with the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as part of the Estimates Process for Budget 2018. Pending the conclusion of these discussions, I am not in a position to comment on the level of funding that will be available in 2018 for disability services.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

346. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding bus services for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40494/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.