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 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, to support people with disabilities within community based living with maximum independence and choice.
Implementation of the Congregated Settings Report is being led by the HSE and the NHSPWD supports this work. The Implementation Framework acknowledges the difficulty in assessing the number of individuals transferring from congregated settings each year, or their likely accommodation requirements. There is on-going engagement between my Department, the Housing Agency, the Department of Health and the HSE, to accelerate progress.