AQW 42080/11-15


Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry


Tabled Date: 10/02/2015
Answered On Date: 24/02/2015
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for Social Development what provision exists for small voluntary charitable community groups to enable them to bring people with psychological, physical and learning disabilities to and from day centres.


Revised Answer:
There is no specific funding to bring people with psychological, physical and learning disabilities to and from day centres.
DSD’s Volunteering Small Grants Programme delivers support direct to frontline volunteering organisations. The programme provides support to volunteer providing organisations to cover volunteer out-of-pocket expenses travel or equipment costs and over £1.4m has been allocated over the last two years supporting over 1300 organisations. The next phase of this programme is planned to launch in April / May 2015.
In addition the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has confirmed that they work with the Department for Regional Development (DRD) to provide support for the Elderly and Disabled. Individuals receive concessionary travel on Rural Community Transport Partnership vehicles and DARD currently provides support to community and voluntary groups in rural areas.
DHSSPS has confirmed that some Health and Social Care Trusts may have service level agreements with local voluntary and community groups to bring people to and from day centres. These agreements may have statutory transport provided or have a transport element reflected in the contract or are designed for people who make their way independently to the Day Centre.
The criteria for statutory transport provision is provided in the Transport Strategy for Health and Social Care Services in Northern Ireland - August 2007 (http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/a_transport_strategy_for_health_and_social_care_services_in_northern_ireland.pdf). Annex 2 of this Strategy sets out the specific eligibility criteria for the provision of transport to facilitate access to social care services (adult services).