Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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673. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons with disabilities in receipt of home support hours in each local health office, LHO, area as of 30 November 2020 or the latest date available; the number of persons currently on the waiting list for same in each LHO area; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to 12 and more than 12 months in tabular form. [41810/20]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE provides a range of assisted living services including Home Support Services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives.

Home Support Services are provided either directly by the HSE or through a range of voluntary service providers. The majority of specialised disability provision (80%) is delivered through non-statutory sector service providers.

Services are accessed through an application process or through referrals from public health nurses or other community based staff. Individuals’ needs are evaluated against the criteria for prioritisation for the particular services and then decisions are made in relation to the allocation of resources.  Resource allocation is determined by the needs of the individual, compliance with prioritisation criteria, and the level of resources available. As with every service there is not a limitless resource available for the provision of home support services and while the resources available are substantial they are finite. In this context, services are discretionary and the number of hours granted is determined by other support services already provided to the person/family.

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

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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674. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons with disabilities in receipt of personal assistance hours in each local health office, LHO, area as of 30 November 2020 or latest date available; the number of persons currently on the waiting list for same in each LHO area; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to 12 and more than 12 months, in tabular form. [41811/20]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The area of disability services is a priority area for this Government. To support people with a disability, significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services, and the Government has ensured that an additional €100 million is being provided for new disability measures next year under Budget 2021. These measures will include an additional 80,000 personal assistant hours.  The 2020 national service plan details that the HSE is seeking to deliver 1.67m hours of Personal Assistant Hours to over 2,550 people.

The Government is working to ensure that People with Disabilities be allowed to live an independent life of their own choosing, the same as any other person, and this is consistent with the disability reform policy - “transforming lives”.

The HSE provides a range of assisted living services including Personal Assistant (PA) services to support individuals to maximise their capacity to live full and independent lives.

Personal Assistance Services are accessed through an application process or through referrals from public health nurses or other community based staff. Individual’s needs are evaluated against the criteria for prioritisation for the particular services and then decisions are made in relation to the allocation of resources.

Resource allocation is determined by the needs of the individual, compliance with prioritisation criteria, and the level of resources available. It is important to note that the level of service delivered is varied to ensure that each client’s needs are reflected. Therefore there is no average agreed number of PA hours per person. PA and Home Support Services are provided either directly by the HSE or through a range of voluntary service providers. The majority of specialised disability provision (80%) is delivered through non-statutory sector service providers.

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

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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675. To ask the Minister for Health the number of residential places for persons with a disability currently being provided as of 30 November 2020 or the latest date available by community healthcare organisation, CHO, in tabular form [41812/20]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives.

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

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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676. To ask the Minister for Health the number of new emergency places provided to persons with a disability as of 30 November 2020, by local health office, LHO, in tabular form. [41813/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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677. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children as of 30 November 2020 or the latest date available that were awaiting a first assessment from the HSE under the Disability Act 2005 by local health office, LHO, in tabular form. [41814/20]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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679. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy assessment waiting list as of 30 November 2020 or latest date available; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 and more than 12 months; and the number waiting aged zero to 17 and more than 18 years of age for each category by local health office, LHO, in tabular form. [41816/20]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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680. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on the speech and language therapy initial treatment waiting list as of 30 November 2020 or latest date available; the number waiting less than four, four to 12 months and more than 12 months; and the number waiting for each category aged zero to 17 and more than 18 years of age by each local health office, LHO, in tabular form. [41817/20]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 677, 679 and 680 together.

The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future,recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.

The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.

As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.