Written answers
Thursday, 5 November 2015
Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
Disability Services Provision
Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on housing records released by his Department under the Freedom of Information Act, which show that just 90 persons out of a target of 300 persons have been transferred from congregated settings over the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38221/15]
Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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De-institutionalisation is a policy matter for the Department of Health who, in conjunction with the Health Service Executive, decide which institutions close and which clients are appropriate to community living with required supports.
The on-going health, home care and other supports for individuals, under the remit of the HSE, are essential components that facilitate this objective. The provision of appropriate housing is another component of the wider strategy, and this element is supported by my Department, in accordance with the National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011 to 2016and the associated National Implementation Framework,published in 2012. These documents were developed as part of a coherent framework in conjunction with the Government’s mental health policy, A Vision for Change;the Report of the Working Group on Congregated Settingsand the Value for Money Review of Disability Services,to support people with disabilities within community based living with maximum independence and choice.
Implementation of the Congregated Settings Report is being led by the HSE and the NHSPWD supports this work. The Implementation Framework acknowledges the difficulty in assessing the number of individuals transferring from congregated settings each year, or their likely accommodation requirements. There is on-going engagement between my Department, the Housing Agency, the Department of Health and the HSE, to accelerate progress.
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