Mr. Pat Healy:

No, that is fine. The whole issue of graduating, school places and rehabilitation, etc., is tied in with the transport issue. On the positive side, as the Minister of State has said, 1,340 people have been supported and of those we were able to address as many as 508 from the existing capacity within the system, with an additional requirement for 832, including transport, for some of them. We try to prioritise and make sure that people link into the existing network of transport because there is quite a bit of it. Some of it is provided directly by the disability sector but also in local areas there are local arrangements and transport schemes. We try to link into such systems so that we do not duplicate a service. Where that is not possible then the provision allows for the transport cost to be part of this programme.

On the positive side, in regard to all of the placements in terms of 2015, the majority of people have been accommodated. Only 35 out of the 1,340 have not had their issues resolved at this stage. Principally, the issues are not around transport. Most of them have to do with trying to find additional capacity, which has been a challenge, particularly on the northside of Dublin. Securing appropriate capacity has also been a challenge in some locations. There was a particular issue with one provider that we are still working through. Transport has worked out well for that initiative this year.

When Members meet constituents they have heard about the broader issue of transport and not just transport for school leavers. We have prioritised transport within social care with our chief officers and it is something that we will prioritise for in 2016. We have already started work on the initiative. It is clear to us from the work that we have done with our service improvement teams, etc., on models of care that there is such a variety of transport provision that we are not necessarily getting best value. To get best value will require a more co-ordinated approach than currently happens across disability services whether it is physical, sensory or intellectual disability. Also, with the HSE's service provision, we have taxis, direct provision and local transport being provided in different locations. We are looking at how we can make that a priority in order to maximise the result for local people, make the system simpler for them and, from a value for money point of view, use the resource to best advantage, which will be a priority for us in 2016.

Members have also asked about congregated settings which, as the Minister of State has said, has transformed lives. It is the model that will transform the disability sector, particularly the old large institutional settings and principally around the intellectual disability side. We want to transform such places into a new model of service that works better for the people that we serve. We held a national summit yesterday, which is the fourth one this year and this topic was discussed in some detail. We gave a commitment we would make sure, as we start to roll out this programme in 2016, that there would be a strong communication programme. We also gave a commitment that we would fully consult with families, service users and their representatives and local communities as we progress this programme.

The Minister has announced that there will be capital funding to support the programme. It is an important contribution that will free us up and enable us to progress in a way that we have been unable to do so before. This year we had a target of 150 people to be transferred but we only achieved a transfer in respect of 84. The principle reason for not reaching our target was capital resources. I wish to emphasise that the Minister has secured additional resources but we are still working with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to access that important resource, referred to by Deputy Ó Caoláin, in regard to Monaghan and the Respond housing association. We want to access the fund. We need to compile an appropriate set of guidelines between ourselves and the HSE and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to access that fund because putting the two funds together will secure a much better result.

An important point to make is that there are different strands across the sector. There is no one size that fits all. As the Minister of State said, there are significant challenges in some of the large old institutional settings, many of which are run by the Health Service Executive, while others are run through voluntary providers, as we have seen in Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, inspection reports and so on. There is a necessity, as we progress with the transformation programme, to target the dozen or so centres where significant compliance issues arise. Moving people into the community will assist in dealing with that issue.

There is, however, a second strand - the 150 centres which do not need revenue resources but more access to capital. It is not generally about building new houses but about leasing or securing existing houses in the community and tailoring them through refurbishment and adaptation to make them fit for purpose for the people who wish to live in them. Consultation and engagement are required in undertaking this work. In the past two years much of the planning and consultation has taken place, meaning that we are not starting from a greenfield site. In these two strands much of the work has already been done.

There is a third strand - levels of complexity. Deputy Catherine Byrne spoke about a case in a community where there was challenging behaviour, as well as complex needs. There is a cohort who require additional focused supports to enable them to live the lives they choose in local communities. It is important this be done properly and it will require the capital fund to assist it. It will also require some initial preparatory work. For example, we have converted two of the bungalows at Áras Attracta to be used for eight people in preparing to move into the community next year. That approach is being replicated at other locations.

As the Minister of State announced, the capital plan has to be finalised as part of the service plan process. Our understanding is that we will be looking at a figure of €20 million next year, a significant additional contribution which will be well received in the sector, given the challenges encountered. We will be working closely with the sector in implementing the plan.