AT LEAST 60 service providers caring for 25,000 people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities are scaling back their operations across the State because of cuts in HSE funding .
Service providers throughout the Republic have been subjected to millions of euro in cuts to this year’s funding. The HSE says this is part of a 2 per cent saving on non-frontline services.
It is understood senior officials from the National Frontline Voluntary Bodies, which represents organisations looking after people with intellectual disabilities, and senior HSE officials met last year to agree on reductions.
Brian O’Donnell, National Frontline chief executive, said a recent survey of its member organisations identified an over-reduction of €4.2 million in salaries and an over reduction of €11.4 million in non-pay expenditures.
Mr O’Donnell said the HSE had deducted €15.6 million in funding provided to services caring for people with intellectual disabilities this year, which is more than double the figure that both parties agreed upon last year.
In its statement, the HSE said funding for 2010 was reduced in line with public sector staff pay reductions, and a 2 per cent value for money efficiency saving was applied to non-frontline services.
It was aware of the challenges that budget reductions presented to organisations and would continue to work with service providers affected by funding reductions.
The Brothers of Charity, one of the largest service providers, says it has been forced to close respite services caring for 377 people in Limerick, and residential homes in Galway, catering for 20 people.
The organisation services 3,600 children and adults with intellectual disabilities and employs about 2,960 staff.
Winifred O’Hanrahan, national chief executive for the Brothers of Charity, said the organisation had its overall funding allocation reduced by €12.1 million this year, which resulted in cutbacks and the amalgamation of services.
Ms O’Hanrahan said the organisation had dismissed 45 staff members this year and anticipated losing a further 28 staff jobs, which could not be filled due to the public service recruitment embargo.
The Daughters of Charity faces comparable cuts to its services in Dublin; it has already announced the closure of one respite centre caring for 84 people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities.
Chief executive Walter Freyne said the organisation was forced to scale back some services this year because the HSE cut its funding allocation by €4.5 million.
Mr Freyne said that if 56 staff were not dismissed by the end of this year, the organisation would incur a 5 per cent deduction from the HSE in its funding for 2011.
It is understood the organisation’s funding for Dublin was cut from €65 million in 2009 to €58 million this year. Direct funding has been scaled back by €4.5 million, as the public service pay cut accounts for the remaining €2.5 million of the deficit.
“The HSE has targeted the Daughters of Charity in a disproportionate manner,” Mr Freyne added. “We were issued a directive informing us to reduce staff, which means we have no choice but to make cuts to our services.”
The Daughters of Charity said it had also closed a recently opened daycare facility which is co-located on a newly developed residential housing complex in Chapelizod, Dublin. Glenmaroon was opened in May and cares for 54 full-time residents with intellectual disabilities.
Staff cuts had forced the closure of day services at the complex because staff were now required to care for residents’ basic needs, said Mr Freyne.
Families affected by cutbacks to the Daughters of Charity’s services will march in Dublin city centre tomorrow in opposition to service reductions which they say will result in the discontinuation of services such as occupational therapy and speech therapy.
Ann Kennelly, national lead for disability services with the HSE, said yesterday the HSE did not accept reductions in funding should lead to reductions in services.
She told RTÉ'S This Weekprogramme that the cuts should be in administration costs so frontline services could be maintained at 2009 levels.
Discussions would take place with the agencies on how to deliver the same services for less, she added.