An extension to the Personalised Budget Pilot until the third quarter of 2023, was announced by Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte with the accompanying evaluation process to be completed in the second quarter of 2024.
A Personalised Budget provides 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 said, “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.
“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.”
In July, there were in excess of 100 active participants on the Pilot.
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.
