Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1064. To ask the Minister for Health the number of personal assistant hours availed of by county and month in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 respectively, in tabular form; if he will increase the number of personal assistant hours; the timetable for this increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20366/20]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Health and HSE are committed to protecting the level of Personal Assistant (PA) and Home Support Services available to persons with disabilities, in line with the National Service Plan. As part of its response to the unprecedented COVID_19 crisis, the HSE has worked with service providers and developed a Contingency Plan to assist in the delivery of services where possible, and recognises that many new and innovative processes were developed to maintain different forms of service delivery during this crisis.

The Department of Health recognises that the programme for Government pledges to deliver increased home support and Personal Assistance hours, and notes that additional funding was allocated in the National Service Plan for 2020.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.