Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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707. To ask the Minister for Health the amount allocated in budget 2019 for personal assistant services to enable persons with disabilities to live independent lives; the way in which this allocation compares with the spending on services in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1125/19]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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708. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of expenditure allocated in the 2019 National Service Plan of the HSE for personal assistant services to enable persons with disabilities to live independent lives; the way in which this allocation compares with the spending on services in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1126/19]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 707 and 708 together.

It is the policy of the HSE to provide personal assistant services that are person-centred, equitable and transparent to people with a physical and/or sensory disability. The HSE is committed to protecting the level of personal assistant services and home support services to persons with disabilities.

No additional funding was provided in Budget 2019 for personal assistant hours however the HSE's National Service Plan aims to provide 1.63 million hours of personal assistance to almost 2,500 people, representing an increase of 170,000 hours over the 2018 target. In addition, home support services will provide 3.08 million hours to both adults and children with a disability this year, an increase of 150,000 hours over the target for 2018. Since 2013 the number of personal assistance hours and home support hours has increased by 25% and 28% respectively.