Mr. Adam Harris:

The lack of supports to live independently in the community is very much what is causing institutionalisation by default for many disabled people. For example, even where social housing is available to our community, it has been noted by local authorities that very often the relatively low rates or the long delays in allocating accessible housing to disabled people can then come about because of the HSE's failure to be able, for example, to provide supports such as personal assistance within the community. It remains a pervasive issue and one for which we continue not to have the level of data we need.

It is welcome the Government has moved forward with a specific housing strategy for people with disabilities The real test in that regard is going to be implementation. We have only to look at the targets the HSE set for decongregation itself. In 2011, just over 4,000 people were living in congregated settings with ten or more people but by 2017, just over half of them had achieved the decongregation the HSE had set out. The levels of implementation are very slow and I think we will continue to see the impact of State agencies working in silos. The housing supply can increase, but if it is not accompanied by the appropriate personal assistance, it will not work. Equally, if the personal assistance is there but without accessible housing that is universally designed, that is going to lead to people not having the option.

We also need to continue to ask ourselves how we are viewing the right of people to live independently. For many people, this continues to be a right that is not presented. Residential care is assumed, and it is not being recognised in and of itself as a form of deprivation of liberty or as the removal of the right to live within the community.