Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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633. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional funding allocated for personal assistance; the additional hours created for personal assistance in the same period; the uptake in personal assistance hours; the number of people availing of personal assistance hours; the unmet met need for personal assistance hours in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35365/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Personal Assistant (PA) service was developed to provide a service for adults with physical disabilities that enables them to live their lives as independently as possible and take decision making control. The person with the disability either directly employs the PA or is involved in the process of selecting the PA to work with them. The person with the disability determines the support they need and the activities they need support with. PA and Home Support Services are provided either directly by the HSE or through a range of voluntary service providers.

In accordance with the National Service Plan 2023, the HSE will deliver an additional 70,370 personal assistant hours to expand and enhance the supports for people to live self-directed lives in the community.

As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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634. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional funding that was allocated for respite services; the additional respite hours created; the additional respite centres created; the location of each new respite centre that was created in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35366/23]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As the query refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.