Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will comment on two aspects. Deputy Bernard Durkan raised the question of a person with an intellectual disability in a nursing home. First, it is important to know that 60% of all young adults and adults with an intellectual disability live in their family homes. What we have now is a situation whereby families are considering the idea of combining living at home with a mixture of respite care and day care. Again, Deputy Durkan is correct to point out that we must have these services in place. Otherwise we will end up with people outside the system or in some cases on the streets. That is not acceptable. The principle of having someone with an intellectual disability in a nursing home as a long-term answer is not acceptable to me as the Minister of State. We are prioritising these issues, especially the questions of residential, day care and respite care in the service plan. We have to deal with these issues.

Another issue might assist the families affected. I set up a task force in September to look into the possibility of a personalised budget. Many families are coming to me privately inquiring about this. I accept that it will not suit all families. However, a substantial number of families throughout the State are telling me that if they were given the budget for 12 months, they could spend it wisely. That would deal with the issues raised by Senator Colm Burke.

Someone mentioned a cost of €80,000 per year for the service and another €56,000 per year per person in further service costs. I am also finding out the consequences of emergency crisis situations. These can happen in several cases where people with disability have high dependency needs. If the person ends up in the emergency department, we will end up spending twice the amount of what it would have cost with a better planned service. I am sitting down with people from St. Michael's House, Prosper Fingal and similar organisations such as St. John of God. I am suggesting to them that they need to focus on these issues and work closely with us in developing the services.

The value-for-money review of disability services in Ireland is being implemented through the Transforming Lives programme. There is a need to monitor performance, control expenditure and shape services. These are issues we need to deal with in a comprehensive way.

I will go back to the original question from Deputy Durkan. It is unacceptable to have a person with an intellectual disability in such a particular service. That is probably as a result of a crisis situation. We need to ensure that the services and funding are put in place and that we respect the families involved, as well as the person with the disability. That is my objective. I do not make big promises, but I am giving the commitment that this is the direction in which I want to bring the services.