April 28 2009

Dáil Debates

• Adjournment Debate: School leavers

Parliamentary Questions

• Department of Taoiseach and 3% employment target
• Funding for Training Programmes in Prosper Fingal
• People with an intellectual disability currently living in psychiatric hospitals
• Allowances to Carers

DÁIL DEBATES

• Adjournment Debate: School leavers

Deputy David Stanton (FG): I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter and I also thank the Minister of State for dealing with it. I am raising the issue on behalf of school leavers with autism and special needs, who typically attend special schools or special classes in mainstream schools. As the Minister of State is aware, these are very special young people. They are aged about 17 or 18 and are among the most vulnerable in our country. The Minister for Finance vowed to protect them in his Budget Statement of 14 October 2008. I have been approached by a number of parents who are very concerned about the availability of places in day service provision from next September. I have a letter from one of the service providers, which states that having attended a meeting with HSE south in April, they were informed that there may not be any new moneys available for day service places this year. Essentially, HSE south is requesting that, where possible, any new individuals requiring a day service this year should be accommodated within existing resources. Unfortunately, this is not possible as it will lead to an inferior quality of service with a much higher staff-to-client ratio that may not meet a child’s needs. HSE south is still waiting clarification — I assume from the Department — as to whether any moneys will be made available in the months ahead. However, there is now a strong likelihood that nationally many individuals will be left either without any day service at all, or perhaps one that is limited to two or three days a week. Parents tell me that would be very disruptive to their children who need a routine. I am asking the Minister of State to give a commitment that resources will be provided so that every young person can be accommodated. Towards 2016 does give commitments in this regard, so I would ask the Minister of State to ensure that they are met. A key focus under the life cycle framework in Towards 2016 is activating people to take up employment or other activities. One of the long-term goals in section 33 states that “every person with a disability will be supported to enable them, as far as possible, to lead full and independent lives, to participate in work and in society, and to maximise their potential”. For day services this implies both a fulfilling environment and developmental possibilities for those participants who want to become more independent. This in turn means that a person-centered approach and linking days services and providers into the world of wider opportunities. While we are in challenging economic and fiscal times, we must not lose sight of where we want to get concerning the long-term goals and the development of services of people with disabilities. The need to harness all resources to achieve common ends that respond to the health, personal and social services, as well as the education, training and employment needs of people with disabilities, must be a priority. In mid-2007, the HSE established a national review group to carry out a strategic review of HSE-funded adult day services for people with disabilities. I understand this was supposed to be completed in 12 months. Can the Minister of State tell me what is the current status of this review? I have been unable to ascertain this information. I have been speaking to parents who are extremely worried. They say that children with autism and special needs required a routine and need to be challenged. If they are home they will be very anxious. They are young adults of 18 or 19 years, who have an intellectual level or mental age of a five year old. They cannot be left on their own but they can be helped and trained to do certain things. I am told that about €20,000 per annum would provide a service for each of these children. At the moment, I am aware of at least seven or eight such children who are waiting to get into at least one service provider in the Cork region. I am told that this could become a national problem, but before it does I ask the Minister of State to intervene. At this time of the year, the service providers and the special schools often enter into a transitional process whereby children can go to the service providers one or two days a week and get used to the routine. That is not happening now, however, which puts them back even further. This matter is serious and urgent because those concerned are the most vulnerable. I hope the Minister of State has good news and will act on this. I am sure he will because I have faith in him.

Deputy John Moloney: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I am pleased to take this opportunity to address the issues raised by Deputy Stanton. At the outset, I would like to reaffirm the Government’s steadfast commitment to people with disabilities in Ireland and to the national disability strategy and its long-term goals and objectives, which we will continue to pursue in the coming years in partnership with all the key stakeholders. As Deputy Stanton will be aware, a range of training, health and personal social day services are provided by several State agencies, including the HSE, non-statutory agencies funded by the HSE, and specialist training providers funded by and on behalf of FÁS to young people with disabilities when they leave school. A national review of all health funded day services for people with disabilities is currently being completed. This review indicates that a total of 25,302 people with intellectual disabilities, physical and sensory disabilities, and-or long-term mental health difficulties attend day services either provided by the HSE or provided by nonstatutory agencies funded by the HSE. These figures include a total of 2,178.05 day places in intellectual disability services comprising of 1,967.55 new places and 210.50 enhanced places funded under the multi annual investment programme 2005 to 2008. With regard to the areas of training and, in particular, the provision of life skills training, otherwise referred to as rehabilitative training, the HSE and HSE-funded agencies provide such training services for persons with disabilities to enhance their individual level of skill, which will focus on the enhancement of an individual’s care, fundamental skills, life skills and social skills. The level of outcome from rehabilitative training is not pre-determined but is dependent on the level of the development capacity of each individual. Consequently, it is important that training services are matched to the person’s need. In meeting this need the HSE employs guidance officers at local level to assist in the profiling of young school leavers with disabilities to appropriate training and day services. The guidance officers work with the school leaver, their family, school authorities and service providers to ensure that school leavers with disabilities have access to appropriate services. The co-ordination and planning of services to meet the needs of people with disabilities form a central tenet to the national disability strategy. A critical element of such co-ordination and planning is the requirement to provide financial support for the developments and implementation of services. In recent years, the Government has provided significant additional resources for services and supports for effecting real change in the development of services for people with disabilities. The multi-annual investment programme, which was a key component of the Government’s disability strategy, had by the end of 2008 provided for the intellectual disability services: 980 new residential places, 313 new respite places, and 2,505 new day places. In terms of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, 300 new residential places and 950,000 extra home care-personal assistance hours have been provided for. As part of the national disability strategy’s multi-annual investment programme, the HSE has increased the number of day places for people with intellectual disability by almost 1,500 since 2005. In addition, nearly 150 day places have had their services enhanced with the provision of additional supports to allow the places deal with school leavers or other adults with significant disabilities. The increase in new and enhanced health and personal social services in recent years has ensured that young people with intellectual disabilities have appropriate services in place to ensure a smooth transition from secondary school. In some cases, the funding provided supported the school leavers to access appropriate day services in line with a person centred plan. Due to the current economic situation, it has not been possible to provide development funding for additional services in 2009.

Deputy David Stanton: The Minister of State is surely not being serious.

Deputy John Moloney: I am being serious. The HSE and voluntary disability service providers are working together to ensure that of the existing resources available for specialist disability, services are used in the most effective manner possible. In the current challenging economic environment, there is a responsibility on all publicly funded services to review the way in which services are delivered and ensure resources are used to maximum effect. This also applies to disability service providers in the non-statutory sector. The aim should be to ensure that the needs of as many individuals as possible are catered for within the resources available. Voluntary agencies within the disability sector are working with the HSE to ensure plans are in place in each area to respond to the needs of individuals with disabilities in 2009. While this will be challenging in the absence of significant funding for new developments, the voluntary sector and HSE are committed to the best use of available resources in a creative and flexible manner to be as responsive as possible to the needs that present. On the specific issue of availability of day places, the Department of Health and Children and HSE are aware of the particular needs of school leavers in September 2009. The HSE is reviewing, with service providers, whether capacity exists within current day services to accommodate the needs of some of the individuals in question.

Deputy David Stanton: Only some of them.

Deputy John Moloney: Yes, some of them. Some funding may be available within the context of the HSE’s service plan to provide additional capacity in the event that existing services are not in a position to accommodate an individual’s service requirements. This will be examined on a local and regional level. The sustained enhancement of service delivery to people with disabilities, as I have outlined, is confirmation of the Government’s objective to progress the disability agenda. Working together with all stakeholders in a spirit of partnership, we will continue to build on what has been achieved in terms of this Government’s commitment to achieving the common goal of building a true and inclusive society.

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

• Department of Taoiseach and 3% employment target

Deputy Róisín Shortall (L): asked the Taoiseach the extent to which his Department is meeting the agreed national target figures for employment of persons with a disability; and when in each case this target will be met or surpassed.

The Taoiseach: My Department exceeds the 3% employment requirement of people with disabilities with 5.9% of the current employees having disclosed disability. Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 gave legal status to this 3% employment requirement which, formerly, had been a target. 

• Funding for Training Programmes in Prosper Fingal

Deputy James Reilly (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children if adequate funding will continue to be made available for the provision of training programmes in Prosper Fingal in September 2009 for adults who attend the long term disability services provided by Prosper Fingal;

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): As the Deputies questions relate to service matters I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 

• People with an intellectual disability currently living in psychiatric hospitals

Deputy Caoimhghín O’Caoláin (SF): asked the Minister for Health and Children the action she will take to provide accommodation for the 319 people with an intellectual disability currently living in psychiatric hospitals, despite stated policy that this is not appropriate;

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): The discharge of clients with Intellectual Disability who are inappropriately placed in psychiatric hospitals is an important policy objective. As the Deputy’s question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 

• Allowances to Carers

Deputy Mary Upton (L): asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the proposals put forward by an association (details supplied) in the absence of the publication of the National Carers Strategy; her views on these proposals, particularly as they are on a cost neutral basis;

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): My officials recently met with the Carers Association to discuss proposals which they had put forward. The majority of the proposals relate to services provided by the Department of Health and Children and the Health Services Executive. However, my officials are committed to working with the Association on any proposals which can be progressed by this Department within existing resources. The Government remains acutely aware of the sacrifices made by carers and has sought to make many improvements in services and supports for carers. The Carers Allowance scheme has been significantly improved in recent years and in Budget 2009, I continued this process. The rate of carer’s allowance for those aged 66 or over increased by €7 to €239 per week and for those aged under 66 by €6.50 to €220.50 per week. These increases took effect from January 2009. Recipients of carer’s allowance are also eligible for household benefits, free travel and the respite care grant. Since 1997 weekly payment rates to carers have greatly increased, qualifying conditions for carer’s allowance have significantly eased, coverage of the scheme has been extended and new schemes such as carer’s benefit, half-rate carer’s allowance and the respite care grant have been introduced and extended. The means test for carer’s allowance has been significantly eased over the years, and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse’s earnings. Since April 2008, the income disregard has been €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. This means that a couple with two children can earn in the region of €37,200 and qualify for the maximum rate of carer’s allowance as well as the associated free travel and household benefits. A couple with an income in the region of €60,400 can still qualify for a minimum payment, as well as the associated free travel, household benefits package. These levels surpass the Towards 2016 commitment to ensure that those on average industrial earnings continue to qualify for a full carer’s allowance. From June 2005, the annual respite care grant was extended to all carers who are providing full time care to a person who needs such care, regardless of their income. The rate of the respite care grant has also been increased to €1,700 per year in respect of each care recipient since June 2008. It is estimated that combined expenditure on carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit, the respite care grant and half-rate carers allowance will be €650 million in 2009.

BACK TO MAIN DÁIL DEBATES & QUESTIONS PAGE