Written answers

Tuesday, 3 October 2017

Department of Health

Health Services Funding

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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282. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department is considering a proposal from a private provider (details supplied) in respect of the provision of respite services for persons with disabilities in County Louth and surrounding areas; when a decision will be reached in respect of this proposal; the number of respite places it would provide; the associated cost of this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41231/17]

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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283. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of funding which was allocated to County Louth in each of the years 2011 to 2016, inclusive, and to date in 2017 in respect of disability capital funding; the agency or agencies this funding was allocated to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41232/17]

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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284. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of funding which was allocated to each of the CHO areas in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017 in respect of disability capital funding; the agencies this funding was allocated to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41233/17]

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 to 284, inclusive, together.

The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.

Budget 2017 includes an increased allocation to the Disability Services Programme to address a number of key priorities in the Programme for Partnership Government. 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.

In the Health Service Executive's (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 questions relate to service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

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