Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1227. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55500/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities to meet their needs. There are a range of services in place to protect individuals and families from excessive costs for their medical and surgical needs.

The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability assist people to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. These works can include making it wheelchair-accessible, extending it to create more space, adding a ground-floor bathroom or toilet or a stairlift. The scheme is administered by local authorities under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

In late 2020, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage offered guidance to local authorities that fixed ceiling-track hoists should not be included in the Housing Adaptation Grants. That Department did not consult with the Department of Health and/or the Health Service Executive at the time, prior to making the decision to remove funding. Engagement is ongoing between the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to this matter – with a view to resolving the difficult issues involved as soon as possible and ensuring that people receive the services they require.

Applications to the Health Service Executive for a wide range of aids and appliances - including beds, wheelchairs, mobile hoists, respiratory equipment, etc. - are made on foot of prescriptions from relevant health care professionals and based on an applicant's eligibility under the Health Act 1970 (as amended). These applications are made under the Community Funded Schemes and are considered by Resource Allocation Groups within each Community Health Organisation. A determination is made regarding approval based on clinical priority and the funding available within local budgets. These aids and appliances play a key role in assisting and supporting people to maintain everyday functioning and to remain living in their homes and local community. The Community Funded Schemes have not generally funded fixed ceiling-track hoists given the need for structural adaptations necessary to install them and, also, that they had been funded under the Housing Adaptation Grants.

I am aware that the unilateral decision to remove funding without ensuring that another Government agency could take over the funding of these items has caused considerable distress to many people who can no longer access a service that they require to meet their health and safety needs. I also understand that the HSE has seen an increase in the number of applications for mobile hoists, but that these may not be as clinically appropriate as fixed ceiling-track hoists in some situations.

I have, therefore, also asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible, on whether an application for a mobile hoist may be clinically appropriate in this case.