Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 February 2014
236. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with an intellectual disability in residential day care and on respite waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6979/14]
View answerSpecialist Disability services are provided by or on behalf of the HSE to enable children and adults with a disability to achieve their full potential and maximise independence, including living as independently as possible in the community. Disability services are provided in a variety of community and residential settings in partnership with service users, their families and carers and a range of statutory, non-statutory, voluntary and community groups. Voluntary agencies provide the majority of services in partnership with or on behalf of the Health Service Executive.
In planning for the delivery of intellectual disability services, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and disability service providers maintain the National Intellectual Disability Database (NIDD).
The NIDD provides a comprehensive database for decision-making in relation to the planning, funding and management of services for people with an intellectual disability. The 2012 Report of the NIDD forecasts the future residential, day care and respite requirements of people with an intellectual disability in the period 2013 to 2017 based on 2012 data. However, it is important to emphasise that the NIDD acts as a planning and forecasting tool and does not match individuals to the actual service they will require at the specific time it will be required. This will often depend on individual and family circumstances which will change over time.
The Report forecasts that in excess of 4500 additional residential, day and residential support/respite places will be needed to meet service requirements in the period 2013 – 2017. Of these 4500 individuals it is forecast that 197 will require a day service, 2054 will require a residential support or respite service and 2271 will require a full-time residential service.
In 2012, the 2271 individuals forecast as requiring a full-time residential service between 2013 and 2017 were in receipt of specialist disability services to meet their needs at that time. 99.4% of this group of 2271 were in receipt of a day service or a residential support service and 96.0% of the 2271 lived at home.
The HSE’s National Operational Plan for 2014 provides an additional €7m towards meeting the needs of approximately 1200 young people with a disability leaving secondary school or Rehabilitative Training. In addition, €3m has been allocated to provide emergency places for people whose care or family circumstances may have changed and who require an immediate response.
