COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, December 09, 2015
QUESTION NO. 9
QUESTION: Councillor E. Ó Broin
"To ask the Chief Executive to explain when and why the Housing department stopped paying for OT reports for Council tenants applying for adaptation grants in the Clondalkin LEA and to detail the number of current applications from Council tenants that are now on hold in the Clondalkin LEA because of this change in policy and the total number of pending applications in the Clondalkin LEA?"
REPLY:
In order for a DPG application to be processed it is essential that an Occupational Therapy Report is carried out and submitted with each application. These Reports are undertaken by the HSE. However it has come to our attention that the Dublin West region are not providing Occupational Therapy Reports for applicants and consequently we are unable to carry out any works on properties without this report. Currently, there are 65 DPG applications pending OT Reports in the Clondalkin LEA.
The role of the Primary Care Occupational Therapist (HSE) is to provide the following :
- Advice re local authority grant system
- OT functional reports
- Advice and provision of specialist and enabling equipment to optimise safety/independence
- Wheelchair assessment and seating provision
- Advice for pressure relief relevant to seating
- Assessments for hoists and other manual handling equipment provision
- Carer advice and support
- Onward referral to Occupational Therapy Specialists as required e.g. paediatrics, specialised seating units
A decision seems to have been made by the HSE Dublin South Central, (Former Dublin West) region to not provide OT reports to applicants who wish to apply for DPGs. SDCC have received no explanation from the HSE as to why this service has been discontinued in this particular area. This is entirely a matter for Management of the HSE. A meeting will to be scheduled by the Housing Department in the New Year between SDCC and the HSE in order to discuss this matter and resolve the issue before the 2016 Allocation is announced.
It is not proposed to pay for the OT reports as it is felt that monies allocated to DPG and small works are better served to our citizens towards the costs of works rather than duplication of service that should be provided by HSE.