Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2015
481. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of persons (details supplied) with an intellectual disability, who are on waiting lists for residential day care and respite care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6147/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpecialist 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 2013 report of the NIDD forecasts the future residential, day care and respite requirements of people with an intellectual disability in the period 2014 to 2018 based on 2013 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 4,488 additional residential, day and residential support/respite places will be needed to meet service requirements in the period 2014 – 2018. Of these 4,488 individuals, it is forecast that 190 will require a day service, 2,043 will require a residential support or respite service and 2215 will require a full-time residential service.
In 2013, the 2,043 individuals forecast as requiring a full-time residential service between 2014 and 2018 were in receipt of specialist disability services to meet their needs at that time. 99.8% of this group of 2,043 were in receipt of a day service or a residential support service and 90.0% of the 2,043 lived at home.
