Press release
Minister Rabbitte announces extension to Personalised Budget Pilot until 2023
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte, today announced an extension to the Personalised Budget Pilot until Q3 2023, with the accompanying evaluation process to be completed in Q2, 2024.
A Personalised Budget is an amount of funding for an eligible person with a disability, so that the individual can make their own arrangements to meet specified support needs, as opposed to having their needs met directly for them by a service provider contracted by the State.
Minister Rabbitte commented:
“I’m glad to be able to extend the Personalised Budget pilot until late next year, allowing it the time and space to develop. We need to see a model of service that moves away from centre-based support, that is flexible and that can draw on a range of specialist and mainstream resources.
“There has been such interest in the pilot, and a real recognition of the potential for Personalised Budgets to be a bit of a game changer in Disabilities. I’ve had numerous people ask me if they could take part in this Pilot, which is why I have also asked the HSE to reopen the expressions of interest to those who may be interested.”
The Minister continued:
“Personalised Budgets can help to give people with disabilities greater choice and control over the services and supports they receive and could potentially play a significant role in supporting individuals and families in the years ahead.
“I am really excited by this Pilot and how it may shape the future of disabilities in Ireland and how people with disabilities manage and access the supports they feel are most important to them and help them live the life they want to.”
Considerable work has been progressed to establish the Personalised Budget Pilot with currently in excess of 100 active participants on the Pilot. A further call for expressions of interest for participants will be announced by the HSE shortly.
The Personalised Budgets Oversight Group, which consists of officials from the Department of Health, National Disability Authority and HSE, recommended an extension to the Personalised Budget Pilot currently underway. This was then considered and approved by Minister Rabbitte.
The extension will facilitate suitable applicant participation and allow time for a robust evaluation to be completed.