The provision of health and personal social services, including personal assistance services, to people with physical and sensory disabilities is a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards, in the first instance.
Since the Government came into office in June 1997, funding for home support services, including personal assistance services, has been substantially increased. This year, additional ongoing funding of £5 million – 6.349 million – rising to £10 million – 12.697 million – in 2002, was allocated for the development of home support services, including personal assistance services. Of this funding, £2.5 million – 3.174 million – rising to £6 million – 7.618 million – in 2002, was allocated specifically for the development of personal assistance services. Priorities for the allocation of funding available for the development of services in the sector are decided by the health boards in consultation with the regional co-ordinating committees for physical and sensory disability services. Voluntary sector service providers and consumers are represented on the co-ordinating committees.
Certain voluntary organisations, such as the various centres for independent living, have used the FÁS community employment – CE – schemes as a means of providing a personal assistance service to their clients. It is recognised by my Department that the use of this scheme is not an appropriate manner in which to fund such an important service and I wish to advise the Deputy that discussions are ongoing between officials from my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with regard to the mainstreaming of this service.
