Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Again, I agree with the Deputy. I think we are all in agreement that we do need to commit to tackling the waiting lists. That is why we have a dedicated Minister of State with responsibility for disability at the Cabinet, working within the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, as part of the wider Government response to increase the number of residential places and improve capacity within the sector as a whole. The action plan for disability services out to 2026 is designed to provide additional funding but also to help build capacity within the services and meet the future needs around residential placements through the provision of over 900 residential care places to tackle not just the current need but also the unmet need, and also to ensure that supply keeps pace with demand because while one bed may be filled this week, another bed may be required next week.

We have seen progress in 2024. Last year, over 220 new additional residential places were delivered. As of August this year, we had over 142 new residential places. In the most recent budget, an allocation of over €65 million in additional funding was secured for additional disability residential responses. That will be set out in the HSE’s national service plan for 2026. We want to continue to support the likes of St. Michael’s House. Over 1,200 services are being funded by HSE Dublin north county and Dublin city and west, including many in the Deputy’s constituency. I assure him that the Department is working alongside service providers such as St. Michael’s House and the HSE to address these challenges and to support providers right across the country to carry out the vital work they do in the delivery of services to those with a disability.

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