December 04 2008

Parliamentary Questions

• Speech and Language Therapists in Primary Schools
• Commitment in Programme for Government regarding S&L Therapists and National Treatment Purchase Fund
• Carers Strategy
• Housing Adaptation Grants

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION

• Speech and Language Therapists in Primary Schools

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has proposals to meet in full the speech and language requests at all primary schools here;

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): The Department of Education and Science is responsible for the statutory provision of education in Ireland. There is no requirement under the Disability Act, 2005 to provide speech and language therapy services in primary schools. Under Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, children under five years have been entitled to an assessment of their disability needs since 1 June 2007. In preparation for the roll out of the Disability Act to older age groups and pending the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act, 2004 increased funding has been provided in recent years to the Health Service Executive to increase therapy supports to school going children. In 2008 additional funding of €9.8M was provided to the HSE for the creation of 140 multi disciplinary posts, including speech and language therapists, to enhance the provision of services for people with disabilities. In Budget 2009, an additional €20m was allocated for health and education services for children with special educational needs. €10 million of this allocation will be provided to the Health Service Executive (HSE), and €10million to the Department of Education and Science. It is intended that this additional funding will enable the services provided to children with special educational needs to be enhanced and strengthened. The additional €10m allocated to the HSE will provide for 125 additional therapy posts in the disability and mental health services, targeted at children of school-going age. This will provide an additional 90 posts in the disability services area, to include speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists for children’s disability services. There will be 35 additional posts for the child and adolescent mental health services, including clinical psychologists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists for new and existing multidisciplinary teams.

• Commitment in Programme for Government regarding S&L Therapists and National Treatment Purchase Fund

Deputy Caoimhghín O’Caoláin (SF): asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the commitment in the programme for Government to ensure that a child under five waiting more than three months for occupational or speech and language therapy will be allowed to access these services automatically through the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As it is presently organised, the National Treatment Purchase Fund currently arranges hospital-based treatment. Therefore the type of services to which the Deputy refers do not fall within the remit of the Fund at present. The matter will be kept under review.

• Carers Strategy

Deputy Billy Timmins (FG): asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a strategy for carers will be published;

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The development of a National Carers’ Strategy is a key Government commitment in both the national partnership agreement Towards 2016 and the Programme for Government. A working group, chaired by the Department of An Taoiseach, is working on developing the strategy. My Department provides the secretariat to the working group which also includes representatives of the Departments of Finance, Health and Children and Enterprise, Trade and Employment as well as FA´ S and the Health Service Executive. Developing the strategy involves consultation with other government departments and bodies not represented on the working group. The Department has met with a wide range of organisations including the Equality Authority, Combat Poverty Agency, Citizen’s Information Board, the National Council on Ageing and Older People, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the National Disability Authority to discuss this issue. A request for submissions from the public was published in regional newspapers in early March. The closing date for submissions was Friday 18 April 2008. There was a good response from individuals and organisations and the submissions received are being examined. Towards 2016 commits the Department to hosting an annual consultation meeting of carer representative groups and relevant departments and agencies. Such a meeting was held on 23 January 2008. Representatives of 12 groups and 9 government departments and bodies attended. The theme was the National Carers’ Strategy and groups were given an opportunity to comment on the draft terms of reference and to raise other issues considered relevant in the context of the strategy. I was very pleased to launch the report “Listening to Carers, Report on a Nationwide Carer Consultation” produced by the Carers Association in partnership with Caring for Carers Ireland and Care Alliance on 30th of June this year. The issues raised in this report are currently being considered as part of the development of the strategy. The commitment to the development of a National Carers Strategy also includes a commitment to appropriate consultation with the social partners. An update in relation to the strategy was provided to the social partners plenary session in February. The first of two consultation meetings with the social partners was held on 8 May 2008. Key issues raised were recognition for carers and their work, access to suitable health services, income support, training, gender issues and balancing employment and care. The inter-departmental group is currently working on bringing the carers strategy to completion.

• Housing Adaptation Grants

Deputy Jack Wall (L): asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to provide funding to local authorities to assist with funding for the provision of grants to the elderly in relation to mobility, housing adaption and housing aid applications and as such to assist the building industry overcome the present employment problems within the industry by creating employment opportunities in each local authority area;

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran): The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department, together with 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. In May 2008 my Department notified local authorities of a combined capital allocation of €71.4 million for the operation of the schemes in private houses in 2008. On foot of significantly increased levels of activity at local level, supplementary Exchequer allocations totalling €8.6 million were made in September and October 2008. It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the specific level of funding to be directed towards each of the schemes, from within the combined allocation notified to them, and to manage the operation of the schemes in their areas from within this allocation. Notification of individual allocations to local authorities for the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability in 2009 will be made following the publication of the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2009. My Department is in the process of liaising with all local authorities regarding their funding requirements under the schemes in 2009. In line with my objective of prioritising the needs of the most vulnerable households, the total financial provision secured for housing in 2009 will allow for the level of funding allocated towards housing supports for older people and people with a disability next year to be increased by 8% over the initial estimate for 2008. This provision will enable local authorities to continue to effectively respond to the housing needs of these target groups through the payment of increased numbers of grants. While the primary objective of the suite of grants schemes is to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their own homes by older people and people with a disability, their operation also supports a certain level of activity in the construction sector.

BACK TO MAIN DÁIL DEBATES & QUESTIONS PAGE