Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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65. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recently published scorecard on the national carers' strategy which classified respite care as regressive meaning that the situation has worsened since the national carers' strategy was launched, in view of the commitments outlined in the programme for partnership Government to the principle of equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities; if his attention has been further drawn to issues with the provision of respite care and residential care in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40772/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The National Carers’ Strategy was published in 2012, and includes 42 action areas under four national goals. One of these goals is to empower carers to participate as fully as possible in economic and social life and an objective under this goal is to enable carers to have access to respite breaks. The Department of Health collates an annual report on the progress made by all Government Departments and their Agencies in implementing the Strategy, which is to be implemented on a cost neutral basis. The fourth progress report, for the period September 2015 to December 2016, was published earlier this year.

In relation to respite, the report notes that “Respite service needs are addressed on an individualised case by case basis and can include planned and emergency respite care options in the home, community and residential settings including services provided by non-statutory organisations. The respite service is not a demand led scheme and the HSE must deliver services within budget.” The HSE has established a respite review group to establish the levels of respite services provided and to consider future performance indicators for the services.

The National Carers Strategy Monitoring Group, established by Family Carers Ireland publishes an annual scorecard on the impact that implementation of the 42 actions in the Strategy is having on family carers’ lives. Its most recently published Scorecard and, in relation to respite, it continues to report the situation as regressive. The report points out that the 2016 HSE Annual Report confirms a reduction of over 4,000 respite overnights delivered.

In the context of disability services, there are a number of factors impacting on capacity. A significant number of respite beds have to be utilised where admission is unplanned leading to the number of available respite nights being down against planned activity. In addition, within the regulatory and policy context, the manner in which residential and respite services is provided has also changed, as Agencies comply with regulatory standards. Capacity has generally decreased with requirements for personal and appropriate space. In some situations beds are no longer available. For instance, they may be vacated by residents who go home at weekends or for holidays and can no longer be used for respite. Implementation of the national policy on congregated settings is also affecting available capacity.

In the HSE's Social Care Operational Plan for 2017, 6,320 people with a Disability are expected to avail of centre based respite services totalling 182,506 overnights. Based on existing levels of service and in addition to the centre-based respite service, it’s planned that between 2,000 and 2,500 persons will avail of respite services such as holiday respite or occasional respite with a host family. It is also planned that based on existing levels of service, a further 41,100 day only respite sessions will be accessed by people with a disability.

In addition, the HSE has been funded to provide 185 new emergency residential placements and new home support and in-home respite for 210 additional people who require emergency supports has been allocated. This marks a significant change in the way that respite services are delivered.

The HSE continues to work with agencies to explore various ways of responding to this need in line with the budget available. As the Deputy's question concerning services in Co Wexford are a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.