Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to ask a question. It relates to the need for additional permanent residential places for persons with an intellectual disability, ID, across the country but specifically in community healthcare organisation 1, CHO 1, which is in the north west. As matters stand, the only funding coming forward at present is going towards decongregation, which is important, but there are a number of people in the community whose families are under unbearable pressure in caring for somebody who should be in a residential place.

Additional funding is needed to address that because it is simply not sustainable. I seek an update on the funding for permanent residential places from the Minister.

I am bringing up a specific case that needs to be dealt with out of frustration. This relates to somebody who was awaiting such a permanent place for a number of years but, because of the circumstances, had to go into an emergency placement in January last. That person's care has been catered for since then by moving the person around three different respite centres because the person needs two-to-one care but the centre needs to be a closed centre when the person is there. If the person was in one respite centre only, it would mean nobody in that area would get respite. The person, therefore, has been moved around three centres. Twice over the past ten months, a permanent external placement has been identified for that person but the funding fell through. It means that, ten months on, the respite care for many people in the community is being affected and, of course, the placement that the person has is not what it should be because the person should be in a permanent residential centre. I have followed the case closely. It is unacceptable that it has not yet been dealt with. I will pass the details on to the Minister and I hope I will not have to be back in three months, which would mark a year since the point when this person was first moved around various respite centres. On the broader point, can the Minister provide an update on the need for funding for permanent residential places alongside de-congregation?