Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 October 2023
312. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he agrees that a minimum of 315 additional residential places for people with disabilities is required to meet emergency needs. [43208/23]
View answerResidential services make up the largest part of the Disability funding disbursed by the HSE – over 60% of the total budget – and approximately 90 service providers provide residential services to over 8,000 individuals throughout the country.
The end of July 2023 position indicates that there were 8,330 residential places for people with a disability, delivered predominantly by section 38 and section 39 organisations funded under the Health Act 2004.
In accordance with the National Service Plan 2023, the HSE received funding to provide a range of residential supports including :
• 43 additional residential places in response to current need (at end of July 2023, 84 new residential places were developed).
• Support 18 delayed transfers of care in line with the Winter Plan (27 people received new residential places with 3 further receiving home care packages).
• Provide 23 residential care packages to young people ageing out of Tusla services in line with the Joint Protocol ( at end of July 2023, 24 packages were developed)
Demand for full-time residential placements within designated centres is extremely high. The HSE profiles those actively seeking specialist disability services, including residential services, using a profiling tool, the Disability Services Management Application Tool (DSMAT) which it has developed. It is a support to the CHO areas in their decision making processes, representing an indicator of need.
This means that services are allocated on the basis of greatest presenting need and associated risk factors, noting that needs can change.
In 2021 the Disability Capacity Review – A Review of Social Care Demand and Capacity Requirements to 2032- was published. It outlined the capacity needs for a growing and aging population and the increasing demands for specialist disability services, including residential services and care, up to 2032. The Review projected a need for a minimum of an additional 1,900 residential places by 2032 under a minimum projection.
The Action Plan for Disability for Disability Service 2024 -2026 was developed arising from the recommendations of the Capacity Review. It was approved by Government in July 2023, following the transfer of specialist disability function from Department of Health to Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The Action Plan is a plan for the first phase of developing necessary capacity in specialist disability services, as well as driving reforms in how services are planned and delivered to achieve better outcomes for persons with a disability. The plan is currently being finalised for publication.
