Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy's principal question was about the under-65s. At that point in time, the answer she received meant that there was what looked like an underspend of €6 million from the HSE point of view. I am looking over at Mr. O'Regan asking if the Deputy is right. He has reassured me that at the beginning of this month, 12 out of the 18 transferred for the under-65s. I know for a fact that one of them happens to be in CHO 3 where we are being more ambitious than we should because technically it should be two per CHO. I think a house is being developed down there and is working with Limerick County Council. That might be a bit slower but the project in Limerick is a really informative piece regarding how we can work with councils and bring property on stream. To answer the Deputy's question, we will meet her target by the end of that year but of the two, I am ring-fencing the piece within Limerick. We will have three when the project is completed.

The ambition for decongregation is 144. We are currently at 95. Mr. O'Regan has assured me that we are on track. That figure is accurate as of the start of this month and we still have two months left to go.

I do realise that just one year after coming into the post we had to transfer over a few that did not happen because of the way Covid happened, but it actually followed through early in January. When we set those targets, it does happen. They have to happen.

With regard to what is going on with under 65s in 2022, everyone here believes in the will and preference, and the right of people to live where they choose to live in their community, with the support mechanisms that meet their needs. I believe it was Deputy Hourigan who earlier brought up the understanding required of the person who provides that home support, and whether they know also what is going on to meet people's needs within the community. That is all being worked out at the moment. We have budgeted for 63 people, which is four times the number of under 65s to move to 2022. That brings all of its own challenges because it is not just about the individual. It is also about the care package that is required and the considerations about the properties, and whether it is in the home. That is all being worked out. At the same time, we are mapping the need of those people who are currently in nursing homes to see where they are medically best supported, while respecting their choice and preference.

I met with the Clare LEADER forum last August, along with Deputy Crowe and Senators Dooley and Conway. My door is open at all times to anybody who wants to make contact. I am probably one of the most approachable and inclusive Ministers of State that one could meet. I have no problem with that at all.

On the piece about the transfer of functions, it is a technical movement. The government level of responsibility for policy development and oversight of disability services, including budget, is moving from the Department of Health to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. It does not mean that the functionality of what we do day in and day out, or anything within that, is changing. My relationship with delivery of services and with the HSE will continue. The biggest piece that is changing within it is the reporting mechanism for the HSE to two line Ministers. That is a huge piece changing within it. In the past, they only ever had to report to one Minister, and now it is two Ministers. The Deputy is right that the HSE will continue to fund services for section 38 and section 39 organisations, and private providers, under the service level agreements. Other than that, there is no change whatsoever.

Senator McGreehan asked earlier about what the policy funding looks like. While we were on the meeting I received a response that my budget is €2.3 billion, and the Department of children and youth affairs' budget is €1.9 billion. I will be the bigger sister in the relationship when I move into that Department.

This gives the committee an understanding of the volume and the complexities of it. On the delivery of services, however, nothing changes. We will be looking at it, most importantly, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the inclusion and equality participation, and a person-centred approach. I cannot say this enough. It will be about the person-centred approach at all times, and not just through the medical model. The approach will be about the whole of the person.