Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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411. To ask the Minister for Health despite funding being included in the 2019 Estimates for speech and language therapy, social work, chaplains and physiotherapy for an area (details supplied), the reason some of these services are not receiving funding. [16477/19]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The overall current expenditure allocation provided for Health as part of the Estimates process was €16.050 billion for 2019. Based on this level of funding, the HSE Directorate has prepared the National Service Plan (NSP) for 2019.   A key priority underpinning the preparation of the NSP was to ensure that resources were targeted towards providing care and support for those patients and clients most in need, whilst also ensuring that the greatest value possible is achieved from the entirety of the resources available.  

In relation to the allocation of funding to specific community services, the HSE are currently preparing Community Healthcare Operational Plans for 2019 having regard to the funding allocations and performance metrics set out in the NSP.   I have therefore arranged for the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on the particular issue raised.