Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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629. To ask the Minister for Health the main initiatives that he has taken to develop and expand disability health services since 27 June 2020; the additional funding provided in successive budgets; his plans for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62216/22]

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, with the allocation of funding to disability services increasing year on year with €2 billion provided in 2020, €2.2 billion in 2021 and €2.3 billion in 2022. 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.

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.

So that further detail can be provided to the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.