De-institutionalisation is a policy matter for the Department of Health who, in conjunction with the Health Service Executive, decide which institutions close and which clients are appropriate to community living with required supports.
The on-going health, home care and other supports for individuals, under the remit of the HSE, are essential components that facilitate this objective. The provision of appropriate housing is another component of the wider strategy, and this element is supported by my Department, in accordance with the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011 to 2016 and the associated National Implementation Framework, published in 2012. These documents are joint publications by the Department of Health and my Department. They were developed as part of a coherent framework in conjunction with the Government’s mental health policy, A Vision for Change; The Report of the Working Group on Congregated Settings and the Value for Money Review of Disability Services.
Following Budget 2016, €1 million will be provided by my Department in 2016 to support the on-going transition of people with disabilities from congregated settings. My Department officials will be meeting with the Department of Health and the HSE in the coming weeks to discuss and agree proposals for expenditure of the 2016 provision.