Dr. Kathleen MacLellan:

I concur that data is the critical element in terms of being able to plan and provide for multi-annual planning. We have been very committed to seeing what we can build and put in place quickly. First of all, we obviously have significant data gaps around those who are under 65 in nursing homes. We are absolutely agreed that this mapping exercise needs to happen as a matter of urgency. We have done a significant amount of work to produce a disability capacity report to look at demographic growth and the various interventions, supports and therapies available at home and in residential health settings.

That report is complete and is due for publication very shortly. It will give us a very strong indication of the types of supports we will need to put in place over the next ten years and the costs associated with that. The other data we have been gathering is from the national abilities support system that has been established. It does not have full data coverage yet but it is bringing together the previous physical and sensory disability databases to have a comprehensive database of those with a disability. This is emerging from data that is captured through the Health Research Board and from the HSE. In addition, the HSE has begun a profiling of those individuals who are applying for disability services, which is entered onto the DSMAT system.

All of those pieces of information and data will start to give us a very strong picture of what is happening within the current system and how we can start planning for the future. We know if we can plan in a multiannual way, it will us much better value for money and that means we can provide more supports to individuals and people. We would strongly concur with that. It is probably important to also mention that we recognise that case management is critical to the support of all people with disabilities. I will ask Mr. O'Regan to describe the considerations that are being given around case management.

I will make one comment on consent. Consent is a fundamental principle and is part of the HSE consent policy, which has very significant codes and guidance on it. It is very important that we are assured that the HSE consent policy is being used as it should be and that there is a review of the consent used for individuals who are being admitted to nursing homes.