Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This year's disability capacity review stated that we needed €350 million. That figure would not be static and would instead grow in five and ten years' time to the tune of €100 million each time. How does the Minister of State believe the next budget and the one after that will get to that figure? We undoubtedly need to reach it.

Congregated settings have been mentioned. When we look back on this era of the State's history, I believe we will view congregated settings as a disastrous problem in many respects. Disabled persons and young people have to live in nursing homes and other congregated settings because they do not have the means to achieve independent or assisted living. Inclusion Ireland stated strongly in its response to the budget that a minimum of 7.2% of all new housing provision must go to people with disabilities, but we are nowhere near that.

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