Pre- Budget Submission
to the
Department of Health and Children
and the
Department of Education and Science

October 2004

Services for those with an Intellectual Disability and those with Autism

Summary of Budget Priorities     

New Residential places                                 500 p.a.
New Day & Respite services                        500 p.a.

·    The promise of multi-annual funding must be kept.
·    The funding must be accompanied by a clear strategy and a funding system which is transparent and which demands accountability from those entrusted with providing the necessary services.

This bill had its name changed to the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill and has now been enacted.  The name change was to reflect the importance of satisfying the real needs of students with disability rather than simply providing a one-size-fits-all service.  This welcome move was somewhat spoiled by the several circulars from the DES which clearly showed that one-size-fits-all is still the norm in Athlone.

The Bill has recently been published.  As to whether it will satisfy the needs of the disability community remains to be seen.

The NPSA discovered, with great regret, that the funding allocated to Intellectual Disability and Autism during the period from 2000 to 2002 has failed to reduce the waiting lists.  In fact, they have now grown further.  During this period the Department of Health Monitoring Committee was given inaccurate information as to what was happening on the ground.  This raises many issues on spending and how funding is monitored by the departments of Health and Education.

Residential places:                              1776 
Psychiatric Hosp. Transfers:                 494
Day services:                                       546
Respite services:                                1637

NEED FOR PLANNING

Last year we asked the Minister for Health and Children to immediately publish a medium term strategy for this sector that would deliver the twin objectives of no waiting lists and comprehensive service provision. An integral part of the strategy was that it be a multi-annual funding model aimed at removing the present ad hoc approach which invariably sees people with disabilities as a discretionary expense area rather than as a citizen group with rights equal to other groups in the community.  The recent announcement that such a package will be put in place as part of the National Disability Strategy is welcome indeed.  However, it is regrettable that actual figures were not supplied at the same time.  Equally important is the need for clearly laid out strategic guidelines within which this money will be spent. 

Inappropriate placement of intellectually disabled people as residents in psychiatric hospitals [including de-designated units in former psychiatric hospital units] continues to be a serious issue.  It is more so because, rather than moving people out from such institutions, we have seen a small number of new placements in the past twelve months.  As we stated last year we see it as a matter of simple human rights that this position should not be allowed to continue.  The current group of 494 people must be removed immediately and all steps must be taken to ensure that no further placements occur.

Therapies:   Last year we pointed out that, in the interests of all our children with intellectual disabilities and autism, it is vital to provide appropriate therapies immediately.  It is not satisfactory to depend on the new courses for the provision of graduates to service the need.  The Bacon Report clearly indicated that to do so will leave the people who need such services waiting until as late as 2015 to have their needs met. The shortage of personnel in this area has become more acute with the assessment provisions in both disabilities bills, putting a further strain on the numbers of therapists that will be available

The government must seriously tackle the problem of shortages in these areas.  As we have previously said, this can be done by at least doubling the number of student places in the above disciplines and, in the short term, sourcing personnel from other countries.

Psychologists:  It is equally important for psychologists to be available to service the ever-growing needs of the sector.  As with therapists this requires a serious attempt at finding innovative ways to resolve the issues.

It is with growing concern we see the recent circulars from the Special Education Section of the DES.
We must point out that when people speak of students with special educational needs the term is meant to be taken literally.  These students, while sharing certain characteristics with other students who have the same broad diagnosis, also have their own specific and very special needs.  These cannot be satisfied unless the formula-based approach which is currently being insisted on by the DES is adjusted to allow for these individual requirements.   Clearly, such adjustments will require extra funding.
This increase in funds should also ensure that the so-called “weighted system” is given sufficient money to ensure that it does what it says.  At present we would agree with the views expressed by the IPPN that it is, in fact, a quota system.
In the short term it is necessary to ensure that an immediate response is given to the thousands currently awaiting various resources.

The NDA and the DOHC have recently developed national standards.  These standards have been agreed after an exhaustive process involving all those with any connection to the area of disability, including people with disabilities, carers, families, service providers, government agencies, etc.

It is critical that this initiative is now given the full support of Government.  A specific and separate funding allocation should now be made to ensure that all involved have the necessary resources (including training, finance and personnel) to bring standards up to the required level.