Meeting of Joint Committee on Health & Children
Thursday, 8th November, 2012
National Federation of Voluntary Bodies’ Opening Statement
The National Federation of Voluntary Bodies Providing Services to People with Intellectual
Disability is a national umbrella organisation for voluntary/non-statutory agencies who provide
direct services to people with intellectual disability in Ireland. Our 61 Member Organisations
account for in excess of 85% of this country’s direct service provision to people with an
intellectual disability. These services are provided on behalf of the Health Services Executive
with whom our members have Service Level Agreements.
Voluntary organisations have a long and rich tradition in the provision of services to people
with intellectual disability in Ireland, in some cases dating back to a time prior to the foundation
of the State.
Voluntary organisations are typically an amalgam of members of local
communities, parents, friends, people with an intellectual disability and staff, who come
together with the common objective of responding to local need by providing the best possible
support to people with intellectual disability in their communities.
Over the decades services have developed to the extent that they are now internationally
recognised for both the range and quality of supports provided. Voluntary organisations are to
the forefront in promoting quality within services and, following work done by the National
Federation’s Quality Sub Committee during the 1990’s, took the initiative in developing quality
systems. A recent survey of our member organisations confirmed that the majority have
achieved international accreditation as high quality providers of services to people with
intellectual disability.
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A unique characteristic of service provision in Ireland is the high number of organisations which
were founded by parents and friends of people with intellectual disability. These organisations,
established on a voluntary basis, were born out of local communities and therefore have very
strong ties and affiliations with the communities in which they are embedded. Parents have a
strong role in their governance as evidenced by the number who are members of the respective
Board of Directors.
The parental voice is an essential and valued perspective and the
Federation is committed to ensuring that this voice is heard.
To this end, we organised
comprehensive briefings for parents on the implications of funding cuts in October 2012, and
what we as a sector are doing to manage the cuts and to seek protection from further cuts in
the forthcoming Budget.
Being closely identified with local communities also gives voluntary organisations access to
significant voluntary input, which has evolved from fundraising activities to include befriending
programmes, policy development and supporting people with intellectual disability to enjoy
meaningful lives.
Voluntary organisations have always been in a situation where demand for services exceeds
supply, within a context of finite resources. The focus has always therefore been on the
efficient and effective use of the resources available. There has been a constant drive to
innovate, to develop newer and better solutions to meet the diverse needs of the people we
support. This focus is particularly sharp in the present economic climate. For example, in the
current year the needs of over 650 school leavers were met through the development of a
series of innovative solutions in the absence of any additional resources.
Voluntary
organisations engaged fully with the recently published Value for Money & Policy. Recently we
carried out a national survey of our membership which confirmed that significant progress has
already been made, and continues to be made, in implementing the recommendations
contained in the Report.
We are now facing unprecedented challenges. Over the past four years, funding for disability
services has been reduced by approximately 15%, at a time when demand for services has been
increasing rapidly and changing needs for people already in services has never been greater.
Many organisations are struggling to stay afloat and have incurred financial deficits in order to
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maintain essential services. Many are registered companies limited by guarantee whose
Boards are concerned that they may be in breach of the Companies Acts by trading recklessly.
Board members are worried about the implications of this for their organisations and for
themselves personally.
There is also serious concern within the sector about the unravelling of much of the progress
that has been achieved over recent years.
As a sector, that was in the vanguard in promoting
quality, we are worried now about the diminution of quality within services. In the face of the
funding cuts there is evidence of re-institutionalisation at a time when government policy is to
achieve the opposite. People with intellectual disability and their families rightly expect no
diminution in either the quantum or the quality of the services they receive. Similarly, the
political system expects that despite funding cutbacks, essential services will be maintained and
indeed, new services will be developed for example to meet the needs of school leavers as in
the current year.
Demographic trends in Ireland are placing greater demands on services and supports than ever
before.
Waiting lists for services will inevitably grow and a population which is growing older
will place greater demand on the sector in terms of meeting changing needs. As parents age,
their ability to care will diminish. The economic crisis which is likely to be with us for years
means that the drive to do more with less resources will continue unabated and the urgent
need for us to innovate and do things in a radically different way will continue.
It is imperative that we protect people with an intellectual disability from any diminution in the
quality of services or indeed a reduction in services as we struggle to continue to meet all needs
with significantly reduced resources. As a voluntary sector, we must avoid at all costs a
dumbing down of the services which have been so assiduously built up over the years. As a
sector, we are fortunate in having staff who are highly committed to the individuals they
support. The challenge for us is to achieve an appropriate mix of people who are competent
and skilled with the right knowledge and expertise to support people with intellectual disability
to have meaningful lives.
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As a sector we want to embrace this challenge, however, there is a limit to what can be done in
a context of significantly reducing resources and we have now reached the end of the line in
terms of our ability to maintain existing frontline services.
With regard to specific budgetary issues we would like to advise that in 2012 alone the funding
cut of 3.7% equates to €33m. In addition to the 3.7% cut, other budgetary pressures such as
increases in PRSI, VAT, increments etc amounted to €11.2m, giving a total reduction in funding
available for frontline services of €44.2m.
As already mentioned the needs of over 650 school leavers were also met without any
additional resources. The cost of these services is calculated at €10m.
How was this achieved? In order to absorb these funding cuts and budgetary pressures service
providers have initiated a series of measures such as reductions in transport; staff travel and
subsistence; clients social programmes and weekend supports.
There have also been
reductions in respite therapeutic interventions and in some cases residential group homes have
been closed for occasional weekends on a planned basis.
Consequences of further funding cuts in Budget 2013 – Another cut in the 2013 budget would
be a cut too far. As has already been outlined, this year has already seen services affected. Any
further cuts in Budget 2013 would result in a reduction to essential services for example
respite, residential supports, day services, early intervention and transport. Staff retiring or
resigning will not be replaced and a voluntary redundancy scheme will need to be put in place
and all external staff training will be terminated (see Appendix 1).
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