Mr. Bernard O'Regan:

I agree that the challenges around inclusion are real. It is not a simple matter and it requires a number of measures. When we consider examples of where this works well, many of these issues are evident.

First, it is about having an absolute commitment to the rights of the individual and to having them protected, exercised and supported. That is about leadership and an absolute commitment. The two organisations the Senator mentioned, and others we could list, are examples of organisations that demonstrate these and make them happen. However, we cannot say that because we got it right today, we will automatically get it right tomorrow. Someone has to wake up in the morning and say we are intentionally going to get it right for people again tomorrow. Also, it is a matter of recognising that if we are really serious about how we support people, we should not engage with them only today to identify their priorities and leave it at that for the rest of their lives. It has to involve a continuous process and we have to be able to adapt and respond to changing priorities, preferences and needs as we go along. That requires a bit of vision and good leadership, management, training and support for staff, but it should not just be the housing authority, local authority or HSE that has to do what must be done. It has to be about communities harnessing local supports and working together. We have identified that local area co-ordination offers much potential. We see examples of it but just need to do it more systematically. We absolutely agree on that.

The Senator's point on the demographic need for residential services is absolutely correct. One of the balances we have to strike from services and State perspectives concerns how we meet the needs of a mix of people coming from different starting points. It is right that we prioritise decongregation and ensure we do what must be done for people living in settings that do not align with the convention. We should be striving to ensure something different for people in nursing homes who should not be in them, but we must also plan and work to meet the needs of the thousands of people who will require residential services. The disability action plan sets out that while 500 people might be in the plan for decongregation over the lifetime of the action plan, another 900 at home will need residential supports. I say residential supports in the broadest sense. It is not about everybody being funnelled into a group home but about determining their preferences and how we support them in having a living arrangement that is aligned with their will and preferences and what the State can provide to them. I hope that answers the Senator's question.