Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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My apologies. I will give an update on congregated settings. The committee will appreciate that the core policy in this area comes from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Action A9.1 in its Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026 states, "Provide for 500 residential places 2024-2026 to advance decongregation programme in line with requirements of Article 19 UNCRPD", with the deliverable to be "500 residential places to advance decongregation". Action A10.1 states that the "HSE will establish a dedicated Project Implementation Team to work with residents, CHOs, service providers, ... [our own Department], local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to accelerate decongregation". We will provide funding for that programme through CAS. We stand ready to provide the funding based on the actions in the plan.

We fully accept that it is Government policy to move people away from congregated settings. We appreciate that large numbers are still in those settings. Decongregation is a core action of the Department with primary responsibility for it, but we provide the funding for housing to enable people to move to independent living. We stand ready to support that.