John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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114. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if mapping of specialist disability services (residential, day, respite, and children’s) is being considered to inform individuals and their families of the location of specialist services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32268/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Geomaps, also known as Geographical Information Systems (GIS), is a technology that offers numerous benefits by making information accessible in a visual format. In relation to specialist disability services, this could assist individuals and their families to access information on services in their local community.

Options for a mapping project are currently being explored with the aim of capturing and mapping all HSE-funded disability services. This project is being advanced as part of a concerted focus by my Department and the HSE to enhance the availability, quality and use of existing data and improve our systemic data capabilities.

Other divisions within my Department have developed similar maps and these initiatives have shown us the potential of mapping for service planning.

In addition to providing information on services to the public, mapping data on disability services could assist evidence-based decision making in service planning and policy development by identifying trends, patterns, and relationships that might be difficult to see otherwise.

Specialist community based disability services are delivered directly by the HSE and in partnership with a wide range of publicly funded service providers. For any person currently seeking information on services, initial contact can be made with the Disability Services Office for the relevant geographic area or referrals can be sought through General Practice, Public Health Nurses and other health professionals. Where families have a concern in relation to a child, they can also self-refer to their local Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT). Contact details for local services in each County can be found on www.hse.ie.