Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The HSE’s 2011 report, Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion, proposes a new model of support in the community by moving people from institutional settings to the community over a seven year timeframe. The plan will be rolled out at a regional and a local level and will involve full consultation.

The HSE has established a subgroup under Transforming Lives, the programme to implement the recommendations of the value for money and policy review of disability services, which is developing an implementation plan for moving people from institutions. I welcome the fact that the needs of people moving from congregated settings will be fully taken into account during this process as the model of care for individuals will be based on a person centred plan.

In terms of housing, the Department of Health and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government are working in collaboration to support the transition of people with a disability from institutions to social housing in the community under the Government's National Housing Strategy for People with Disability 2011- 2016.

The HSE's 2016 national service plan has set a target of 165 people to move from institutions in 2016 into suitable accommodation. This is being supported by €20 million in capital funding from the Department of Health in respect of acquiring and renovating properties in priority institutions identified by the HSE. In addition, I am pleased to note that the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will provide €10 million under the capital assistance scheme to provide suitable accommodation for people transitioning from institutions in 2016. The HSE estimates that a further 100 people could benefit from this initiative. Additionally, €1 million in ring-fenced leasing funding is also being made available by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in 2016 to support people moving from institutions into suitable social housing in the community. This demonstrates the joined-up commitment of both Departments to support decongregation.

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