Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State is very welcome to the House this morning. I am seeking an update on the proposed extension of services at Errigal Truagh Special Needs Day Care Centre in Knockconan, Emyvale, County Monaghan. The Minister of State's colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, kindly met this group on Tuesday last at my request for the second time this year and was very impressed by the group's enthusiasm for the service it is providing down at Errigal Truagh. Indeed, I commend the Minister of State again on her work in the disabilities Department as it relates to my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. During her term we saw the official opening last Tuesday of a new children's respite facility in the county, which is much-needed and long overdue.We have the seen the expansion of adult day services at Steadfast House, Carrickmacross. We have seen an allocation of €7.5 million towards the expansion of Drumlin House at Cootehill, and the proposed new development to replace Knockcarrig House in Cavan. The reign of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has been a very successful one as far as my constituency is concerned. I thank her personally in that regard.

To go back to Errigal Truagh, staff there operate an adult disability day service. They do an excellent job. Any service user who comes in contact with them enjoys and has a great time in that service. However, because the service has been so successful, it is now oversubscribed and is in need of an extension. The group has not sat on its laurels. It has been very energetic in that it has secured planning permission for this proposed extension to its services, which in addition to providing more adult day services will also provide the potential for a children's respite day service that, again, is much-needed. As I said, planning permission has been secured. The project has been completely funded. The group has been working tirelessly with the local HSE with a view to progressing this project to the HSE at national level. We are now at a point whereby it is hoped that the time-related savings in the capital plan will result in some moneys being unspent, and that this project at Errigal Truagh will be able to get its hands, if you like, on some of that funding. I hope we will have good news in that regard and that this much-needed project will be able to progress. Again, I cannot commend this group highly enough on the work it does. All the service users who come in contact with the service have nothing but positive things to say about it.

The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has been working on this. I spoke to her again yesterday and to her office staff this morning on the issue. We are hopeful that moneys will be left unspent that will potentially be allocated to Errigal Truagh Special Needs so it can continue the good work it is doing. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I am aware of his ongoing advocacy for his constituency, especially the County Monaghan area. I know that this project is of great importance to him and the users of the service.

I will take this opportunity to state the Government’s commitment to supporting disabled people to live ordinary lives in ordinary places, even extraordinary lives at times, by helping to provide the services and supports that they need. This year, the Department was able to secure a significant uplift in the budget for disability services. For the first time, the budget will exceed €3 billion. In addition, €27 million has been secured for capital expenditure. That is an achievement that the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, is very proud of. The Senator is working with her on this and is closely engaged on it. Capital investment is something he fought hard to achieve.

This increased capital funding for capital projects in disability services will be spent in line with the Government’s strategic plan for reform of the disability sector, as laid out in the disability action plan 2024 to 2026. Launched in December 2023, the disability action plan contains ambitious targets for service expansion as well as a route for making services more person-centred, in the spirit of the UNCRPD, through strategic innovation and policy reform. A senior and dedicated lead within the HSE is being appointed to drive growth in investment and delivery of disability capital projects. Good progress has been made in the meantime. Spend on disabilities capital is on profile at this stage in the year and is expected to be spent in full by year end.

As funding for individual capital projects is an operational matter for the HSE, it has advised the Department of the position regarding Errigal Truagh as follows. Errigal Truagh, a section 39 disability service provider in Monaghan, has submitted a number of business cases to HSE disability services in the Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo area. The business cases received so far relate to the extension that Errigal Truagh is seeking to progress at its current location and for which capital funding is being sought, as I am sure the Senator is well aware, and the services Errigal Truagh advises it intends to operate from the new extension, if that is funded. As such, a number of the business cases received from Errigal Truagh relate to revenue funding requirements that also arise in respect of the proposed development. There are two aspects to this; the capital funding for the extension and the services that are to be provided at that extension. It is a twin-pronged plan.

HSE disability services continue to engage with Errigal Truagh with regard to these business cases. That is part of the capital approval process in place for these kind of projects. As the Senator will be aware, the Department sets out allocations at a broad service level. Precise allocations to individual organisations is a matter for the HSE. HSE management is involved at a detailed level with individual organisations. The Department has its criteria and its broad-brush allocations but it is a matter for the HSE to engage on particular projects. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, holds capital project development in disability services as one of her key priorities. She is very keen to ensure that capital projects are delivered on time and on budget and that value for money is being achieved, so that projects such as the Errigal Truagh Special Needs project can provide valuable services for citizens, and provide more of them under the proposed plan.

Once again, I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and giving me an opportunity to give an update on it.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. Respite is essential to all families, be it adult or children's respite. When we talk about respite, it is important that we know exactly what we are talking about. It gives families time to breathe and time to get on with other duties with other family members. It is absolutely essential.

There has been an awful gap in Monaghan for a long number of years. I am glad that the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has gone a good way to assist in providing much-needed services to the county and to County Cavan. With that in mind, this is another project that can further alleviate the pressure on families by providing additional services to adult day services, as well as children's respite, at Errigal Truagh. It does an excellent job. I am sincerely hopeful that capital funding will be left over in the capital plan and that the HSE will have the plan at national level whereby, with moneys left over, a positive decision can be made on the funding of this much-needed and richly deserved project.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I again recognise the Senator's continued advocacy for this centre and for communities in County Monaghan. I once again restate the Government's commitment to providing services and supports for people with disabilities, empowering them to live independent lives, providing greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhancing their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs. Ultimately, our aim is to provide supports and services in line with commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In recent years, significant resources have been invested in disability services. This is reflected in the budget for disabilities, which has increased from €1.2 billion in 2020 to €3.2 billion in 2025. By any metric, that is a significant multiplier and a very significant commitment of moneys from the Exchequer to the sector. That shows the Government's intent.

I also acknowledge the Senator's remarks on respite care and how vital a service it is to families and the persons around them. Often, it is family members who are most in need of the support, as well as the person with the disability. I acknowledge, entirely sympathise with and share the Senator's concern for the centre and his desire to see it grow. I will pass that on to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte.