Planned disability services to go ahead

The Minister of State with responsibility for Equality, Disabilty and Mental Health, John Moloney has confirmed that new developments for disability services are to proceed as planned this year.

Yesterday, the Irish Timesreported that the HSE's board had been told by management that it was planning to introduce additional cost-containment measures aimed at generating further savings of €193 million.

The HSE is facing a potential shortfall of €300 million this year and it was thought that €50 million earmarked for new disability services could be diverted for other uses.

However, earlier today Mr Moloney said that he had been assured by the HSE that, while the commencement of some services had been delayed this year due to a financial review, the HSE was now in a position to roll-out the planned disability developments as outlined in its 2008 Service Plan.

"Developments will include new day places for young people leaving school and additional therapy supports for pre-school children and for children with autism," said Mr Moloney.

The additional €50m was provided to the HSE in the 2008 Budget to fund a range of additional services under the Multi-Annual Investment Programme for Disability.

Planned services include additional residential, day care and respite care places for people with intellectual disability and autism; additional residential care and home support services for people with physical and sensory disabilities; and additional multi-disciplinary therapy posts to provide assessment and ongoing intervention services to children with a disability.