Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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In recent months, we have been negotiating with the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the 2020 HSE service plan for 2020. The issue of residential places has been one of my top five priorities during those negotiations. We need to deal with many issues, including day services and personal assistance hours. The bottom line is that we have a cohort of elderly parents whose adult children with intellectual disabilities are in need of residential places. We have not yet finalised the service plan. The need for new residential places for people in critical need is a major issue for me. I accept the Deputy's point that we need to focus on these issues. We are going to exceed €2 billion in the 2020 HSE service plan for 2020. We need to ensure that we have priorities in the context of that €2 billion. Elderly parents of adults with intellectual disabilities are very worried about the future. They have a right to residential places for their children. I am determined to facilitate that. I would say we will know more about this in the next week or so.