Written answers

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Department of Health

Disability Services

Photo of Pauline TullyPauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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2221. To ask the Minister for Health the capital and current funding that was allocated to disability services in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021 for transport to day services for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37004/21]

Photo of Pauline TullyPauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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2222. To ask the Minister for Health the additional cost of increasing funding for transport to day services for persons with disabilities by 5%, 10% and 25%, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37005/21]

Photo of Anne RabbitteAnne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2221 and 2222 together.

The Department of Health and the HSE provide specialist disability services, including Day Services and Rehabilitative Training, to people with disabilities who require such services. The HSE has no statutory obligation to provide transport services and no funding is allocated for this. Transport is not considered a core health service and as such Day Service funding does not include transport.

Some transport supports are provided by the HSE or funded agencies on a discretionary basis, and a variety of transport solutions are pursued in different CHO areas. These include travel training by to enable public transport to be used upon commencement of a day programme (where applicable), local transport such as Local Link, private bus transport providers and taxis, funded via a combination of service provider, HSE funding, service user contribution, and / or combined funding; and some service providers provide transport where capacity exists.

In general, day service users are in receipt of disability allowance and are automatically entitled to the Free Travel Pass.

In CHO1 (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo) where transport for clients accessing HSE services is a particular challenge due to limited public transport, the HSE works with local Rural Transport Companies / Local Links to provide door to door transport for people attending HSE funded services from their home to their Day Service subject to minimal user charges.

There are improvements in access to a range of transport supports available to persons with disabilities in the State, for example the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers scheme, operated by the Revenue Commissioners; the Free Travel Scheme operated by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection; and CLÁR funding, approved by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, to voluntary organisations providing transport for people with significant mobility issues.

Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017 - 2021, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for the continued development of accessibility and availability of accessible public transport.

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