Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

718. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties and cuts in supports for the disability care sector due to Covid-19 and the resulting social distance guidelines, particularly but not exclusively, in the south-west Dublin area; his plans to support these vulnerable citizens; the contact his Department has had with various support organisations; if plans are being rolled out to move from part-time to full-time supports; if respite supports are being discussed or planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24832/20]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As part of the overall effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 and in line with public health advice, day service locations closed in March.

Since then, HSE Disability Services have been working to develop national guidance on the part of the disability sector to direct how all day services can be delivered. The Guidance to support the Framework for the Resumption of Adult Disability Day Services was published by the HSE on 8th July 2020.

In developing the guidance document to guide providers, the HSE worked closely with service providers through representative organisations such as the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers, Disability Federation of Ireland and the Not for Profit Association, in addition to Inclusion Ireland, who represent people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

The guidance document seeks to support the safe return of services in the context of ongoing public health guidance. It also recognises that the impact of public health guidance will result in services being provided at a reduced level and will require changes in how people are supported, increased use of technology where appropriate and more use of outreach supports.

Day services gradually resumed during August and early September. Service providers are working reopen day services safely, and in line with public health guidance. Service providers have been in touch with all families and service users to discuss when they may expect the resumption of their service and what that service will consist of.

As services resume, capacity in day service locations will be reduced. However, the HSE and service providers will keep this measure under review and as public health guidance evolves, capacity to provide supports will adapt accordingly. Both the HSE and service providers are committed to maximising the support that can be provided within these restrictions.

The Guidance to support the Framework for Resumption of Adult Disability Day Services is available on the New Directions website: www.hse.ie/newdirections. The HSE have also issued monthly communications updates for service users and their families, and the latest update, a video message from the Head of Strategy and Planning HSE Disability Services, is available at the above link.

An information portal that contains the dates on which the 966 disability day service locations will reopen around the country is now available. Service users and families can access this information on

With regard to respite services, the HSE’s A Safe Return to Health Services outlines a three phased approach to the return of health and social care services. This plan states that short-stay residential and emergency/residential respite will begin to re-open from July to August with activity increasing in the next two phases September – November and December 2020 to February 2021. The main assumption underpinning this schedule is the level of illness and health service pressure caused by COVID-19. If this increases in later surges, the timelines in this document will change.

I want to acknowledge the many challenges experienced by individuals and their families over this difficult time. Families across the country have had their routines upended due to the impact of COVID-19 and I hope that these will be the first steps towards returning to some sense of normalcy.

As the Deputy's question also pertains to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.