Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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79. To ask the Minister for Health the plans that are in place to improve and expand disability health services in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61180/22]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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In recent years, significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services. This year, the overall Budget for disability services in 2023 will be €2.4 billion, including a significant level of funding for specialist disability services. Building on the previous year, this is an unprecedented level of funding for Disability services. It follows substantial increases in the budget in 2021 and 2022; and reflects this Government’s commitment to strengthening the funding provided for the disability sector and working to act to address the shortfalls identified in the Disability Capacity Review.  

The following increased funding has been provided for 2023:

A significant fund of up to €100m has been allocated this year to support community based voluntary organisations who are such an essential pillar in the provision of Health services across country.  This fund is being made available in recognition of the challenges being faced by the sector in delivering and maintaining key health and social care services against a backdrop of increased inflationary pressures affecting energy, heating and related costs.  These organisations are funded through the HSE to deliver a range of health and social care services on behalf of the HSE to communities around Ireland. This includes residential, day and ancillary services for people with a disability, older people, mental health services, palliative care services, addiction services and other health and social care services provided in the community. Details of the fund including its administration are being finalised. 

The HSE, in preparing its National Service Plan, will examine how services, including relevant KPIs, can be progressed in 2023 within the overall increased envelope of funding for disability services.

The Department of Health published the Disability Capacity Review in July 2021. This report set out the capacity requirements for health-funded disability services for the period up to 2032 and it is intended to address the capacity deficits in a phased approach over this period. This reflects the obligation under the UNCRPD for progressive implementation of social, cultural and economic rights.

In order to drive the process of implementing the recommendations of the Capacity Review, a Working Group was set up to develop an Action Plan for Disability Services. This group has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan, which will be an implantation plan for the first phase, is currently being finalised for approval.

In a Primary Care context, the Enhanced Community Care (ECC) Programme is a suite of strategic reform initiatives which seeks to reduce dependency on the hospital system by delivering increased levels of healthcare provision in the community setting, with service delivery reoriented towards general practice, primary care and community-based services. ECC was initially developed in 2019 as part of Sláintecare. 

In addition to an annual revenue budget of €195 million, which was allocated in Budget 2022 for the recruitment of staff to the Enhanced Community Care (ECC) Programme, a further €13.8 million was allocated in Budget 2023 to Primary Care for new developments, including for the continued roll out of Programme.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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80. To ask the Minister for Health when a full complement of therapists will be provided to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [58408/22]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.