Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The HSE and lead agencies are experiencing ongoing challenges recruiting to maximum capacity in the disability sector. These challenges are reflective of issues affecting the wider health and social care sector and are impacting the ability of the HSE and disability service providers to deliver on their vital work. Ensuring that the disability sector is fully resourced is a key priority of the Government. This priority has been reflected in our programme for Government.

It is important to acknowledge the progress that has been made in recent years. Employment across the HSE and section 38 agencies is at record levels and growth achieved in 2024 has greatly surpassed prior and planned performance. From December 2019 to December 2024, the disabilities workforce in the HSE and section 38 providers expanded from 18,273 to 21,528 whole-time equivalent staff, an increase of more than 17%. In 2024 alone, the disabilities workforce increased by 963 whole-time equivalent employees, representing a 45% increase on growth levels achieved in 2023. However, demand for services continues to grow beyond present capacity and significant challenges remain, so we must continue to innovate and build on the momentum.

Increasing the disability sector workforce is a key priority for the Government. The number of funded posts in disability services has increased to 21,644 whole-time equivalent staff in 2025. This equates to an additional 384 whole-time equivalents associated with delivering existing levels of service and a further 133 whole-time equivalents staff to deliver new development measures.

A dedicated disability workforce strategy will be developed in 2025 to meet growing service demands and address recruitment and retention challenges. Our ambition is evident in the disability action plan and is further underpinned in the progressing disabilities services roadmap, which sets out measures designed to attract and retain staff in the CDNTs. I can list these later.

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