John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Desmond mentioned decongregation. I do not know what the target is for this year, perhaps it is between 150 and 200, but at the same time more than 100 young people with disabilities will go into nursing homes.

He mentioned also that he can speak about the health side. Last year, Mr. Jim Breslin, Secretary General in the Department of Health, when attending a meeting here, named issues outside of the Department that impact on the efficient delivery of health, such as housing, education and various other things. There is a problem when representatives of Departments or public entities say what they can talk about. I remind people that the Department was involved, along with this committee, the Joint Committee on Education and Skills and the Joint Committee on Health, in the compilation of a report on people with disabilities last year, which was groundbreaking. We have to find a mechanism as a Government, and as a State, to be able to consider things that are outside of one entity.