Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, health and social personal services are by their nature varied and complex. In some instances, the HSE itself delivers these services directly and in other circumstances, the HSE relies upon funded providers to deliver these services on its behalf. Sections 38 and 39 of the Health Act 2004 legally underpin

(a) the provision of services by non-statutory providers on behalf of the HSE (Section 38); and

(b) the provision of services similar or ancillary to a service that the HSE may provide (Section 39).

Amongst Section 39 voluntary organisations are hospices, mental health providers, nursing home and homecare providers, small community-based groups and social care services. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, each HSE Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) has an Area Crisis Management Team and all services have plans in place for providing supports during this period to ensure continuity of service provision. The HSE holds weekly teleconferences with key stakeholders, including Section 39 service providers, to identify and respond to challenges at local level,

As part of the HSE COVID 19 response, there is a requirement on each of the Area Crisis ManagementTeams to establish a number of Residential Care & Home Support Covid-19 Response Teams (CRT)to address COVID -19 outbreaks in their area. The purpose of these CRTs is to support the prevention, identification, and management of COVID 19 outbreaks across residential care facilities and Home Support services. These teams provide support across a range of nursing and medical care areas as well as Infection Prevention and Control. The teams also support residential care facilities/Approved centres in the catchment area whether they are public, Section 38, Section 39 or private facilities, and across the care groups of Older People, Disability, & Mental Health. In addition, they also address identified clusters of concern in the Home Support services, as determined by Public Health.

The HSE has put in place a structured governance process through which Section 39 organisations experiencing financial difficulties due to the Covid-19 public health emergency can engage to ensure, where appropriate, continuity of essential services provided by these agencies.

Finally I would like to acknowledge the vital role played by voluntary organisations, including those funded by the HSE under Section 39 of the Health Act, in ensuring a flexible and person-centred response to ensure continued support for our most vulnerable citizens during this challenging period, and as we prepare for the next phase of the response.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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611. To ask the Minister for Health the plans in place for the reopening of learning and disability services for adults and children that are closed due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8067/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am informed that HSE Disability Services is now moving from the current crisis-response phase to the next phase, which will be one of recovery and safe reinstatement of supports and services critical to people with disabilities and their families. In this context, the HSE are in the process of detailed planning in order to recover these services in line with the Governments' Roadmap. This will be supported by way of assurance and oversight from the HSE's Chief Clinical Officer along with the NPHET, to ensure the HSE does so in a safe manner. HSE will continue to adhere to public health requirements while also reflecting key policy and legal requirements forming under the UN Convention on the Rights of People with a Disability. This means that services, whilst being delivered in new ways, will gradually be re-introduced to people with disabilities.

The HSE have established a number of Working Groups to design and propose how services can be safely reintroduced. This will be achieved as a collaborative process involving out colleagues within the disability umbrella organisations.

Please note that many educational services for children with disabilities are under the remit of the Department of Education and Skills and the deputy may wish to direct enquiries in that regard to my colleague, the Minister for Education.