Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Fergus O'Dowd for raising this important issue. I commend him for his work as a strong advocate for people with disabilities in the County Louth area and particularly in relation to this issue of St. Mary's in Drumcar and the PEER project, which I am also working on.

I will outline my position on services for people with disabilities who need residential supports from the health service. This Government - I emphasise it is a partnership Government - is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide them with greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. I am acutely aware of the changing needs of people with disabilities and understand that many people require additional or alternative services. That is key. The approach I am pursuing is to move away from the old institution model to one of community-based, person-centred services. The programme for Government contains a commitment to continue to move people with disabilities out of congregated settings, defined as a setting where ten or more people with a disability are living, to enable them to live independently and to be included in the community.

This work is already under way and the number in congregated settings has dropped from over 4,000 in 2008, to under 2,800 today. Capital funding of €20 million from the Department of Health is being made available to the HSE in 2016 to move people out of congregated settings. That funding was announced two weeks ago. The funding will be used to facilitate the relocation of some 165 people currently living in 14 institutions around the country to suitable accommodation. St. Mary's, Drumcar, is one of these institutions and St. John of God's is committed to moving 20 residents from St. Mary's into community settings this year. That means 20 people are being dealt with immediately.

I accept the point Deputy Fergus O'Dowd has made that St. Mary's, Drumcar, is a significant provider of disability services in the Dublin north-east area and is part of St. John of God's services, funded by the HSE under section 38 of the Health Act. In 2010 the St. John of God's north-east services amalgamated their adult and children's respite, thereby reducing the capacity of respite provision in St. Mary's, Drumcar. The respite provision is now three weeks for adults and one week for children. There is currently a waiting list of 40 to 43 clients who have been identified as needing community residential placement due to elderly, frail parents caring for adult clients with an intellectual disability. All of these clients - people with disabilities and mental health issues - have been mapped onto a national housing strategy in partnership with Louth County Council. Capacity to respond to residential and respite emergencies is identified and managed on a geographical basis. This is done in consultation with service providers and taking cognisance of the policy in moving people out of congregated settings.

The emerging residential need in the absence of residential development funding over the past number of years is acknowledged by the HSE and myself as a challenge for all services providing support to clients with a disability. Recognising this, I recently announced an additional €31 million in funding for people with disabilities, of which €3 million is earmarked for new initiatives, including the anticipated cost of a number of emergency residential placements arising this year. In this regard, the HSE will continue to reform service delivery models to maximise the use of existing resources and develop sustainable models of service provision with positive outcomes for service users, delivering the best value for money.

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