Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I have a quick follow-up question. It was quite disappointing that 18 people were initially decongregated. That was an incredibly low number given the incredibly high number of people who were inappropriately placed in those congregated settings. I know from different people we were dealing with in my office that it was not just in old persons’ homes but that people were also placed into psychiatric wards, which could not be more inappropriate. In many areas, particularly rural areas, there is an absence of any kind of independent supported living. One of the things this committee requested when we started up in this Dáil was that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage would come before the committee and explain to us how many houses there would be in any builds for providing independent supported living. I have come to the conclusion that this must be considered in other policies. How can the HSE address a lack of independent supported living if the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is not taking that into consideration from the outset when we are building houses? How hopeful are the witnesses that this will be scaled up to the extent they are hoping for? How can we get it from 18 up to over 1,500?