Written answers

Thursday, 10 October 2019

Department of Health

Disability Support Services Provision

Photo of Margaret Murphy O'MahonyMargaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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19. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to increase the number of personal assistance hours being provided to persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41186/19]

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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In line with Government policy, the HSE provides Personal Assistant (PA) Services that are person-centred, equitable and transparent to people with a physical and/or sensory disability.

People with disabilities are now living longer and living with a range of complex needs. In line with national policy implemented under Transforming Lives, the focus in recent years has been to enable people with disabilities to live lives of their choosing. The provision of Personal Assistant hours is an essential component to facilitate this.

The PA works on a one to one basis, in the home and the community, with a person with a physical or sensory disability. A vital element of this personalised support is the full involvement of the service user in planning and agreeing the type and the times when support is provided to them. Supporting independent living must enhance the person’s control over their own life.

PA Services are mainly provided through a range of voluntary service providers. The need for increased services is acknowledged and the HSE continues to work with agencies to explore various ways of responding to this need within the budget that is available.

The HSE has consistently, year on year, increased the number of hours of PA Service delivered, resulting in the overall number of personal assistance hours increasing by 26% between 2013 and 2018, an increase in real terms of  340,000 hours. Over the same period the number of people receiving PA Services increased by approximately 480 to 2,535.

The increase in PA support over the years reflects the increased provision of ‘in-home’ respite using enhanced PA, in comparison with residential respite.

The HSE's 2019 National Service Plan is committed to providing 1.63 million hours of personal assistance to people with disabilities, which represents an increase of 170,000 hours over the 2018 target. This year, PA Services have been delivered to over 2,550 people with a disability.  

In the normal course of service delivery, an individual's requirements are constantly reviewed to ensure services meet changing need.  An individual’s Personal Assistant hours may be adjusted following a service review where demand can result in one individual’s hours being reduced in order to address priority needs of other people with disabilities within that community.

This much needed flexibility gives local Community Healthcare Organisations the freedom to target Personal Assistant hours to maximum effect within their area.

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