Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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670. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to invest in personal assistant services that will dramatically change the lives of persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35764/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) is committed to protecting the level of Personal Assistant services available to persons with disabilities.

In the 2018 National Service Plan, the HSE's priority is to provide 1.46 million hours of personal assistance to more than 2,000 people with a disability, representing an increase of 60,000 hours over the 2017 target of 1.4 million hours.

The level of funding available for my Department is being considered as part of the national Estimates and budgetary process for 2019 which is currently underway. Pending completion of this process it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.