Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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415. To ask the Minister for Health to address a matter (details supplied) regarding persons with disabilities. [5716/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Government continues to be committed to facilitating the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the life of the community through access to individualised personal social supports and services. This year the Government will provide €1.56 billion for health-funded services and supports to enable each individual with a disability to achieve their full potential and maximise their independence. The quantum of service to be provided, together with key deliverables and priorities, are outlined in the HSE’s National Service Plan for 2016. The HSE is committed to protecting front-line services for people with disabilities, with targeted improvement in priority areas:

- the reconfiguration of children's therapy services, for which an additional €4m has been provided;

- the provision of services for 1,500 young people on leaving school and rehabilitative training, which has been allocated an additional €7.25m;

- the development of alternative respite models, with €1m targeted funding;

- the reconfiguration of residential services, supported by €20 million in capital funding, and

- quality improvements to increase compliance with National Standards for Residential Centres for Children and Adults with Disabilities.

Disability service provision is moving towards a community-based and inclusive model of person-centred day and residential supports, as recommended in the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services in Ireland, and is being implemented through theTransforming Livesprogramme. This transformation programme means that person-centred and individually chosen community based supports are progressively becoming the norm, and is a distinct move away from the group-based, often segregated approach of the past. This new approach will be underpinned by a more effective method of assessing need, allocating resources and monitoring resource use.

A key element of Transforming Livesis the implementation of national policy on supporting people who live in congregated settings, defined as residential settings where ten or more people with disabilities live together, to move to the community. This policy is described in the HSE’s report on Time to Move on from Congregated Settings - A Strategy for Community Inclusion,and is underpinned by theNational Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016, published jointly by the Department of Health (DoH) and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG).

The HSE’s Social Care Directorate has prioritized the accelerated implementation of the de-congregation policy in 2016. The HSE's 2016 National Service Plan has set a target of 165 people to move from institutions into suitable accommodation this year. This is being supported by €20 million in capital funding from the DoH in respect of acquiring and renovating properties to support the de-congregation process. In addition, the DECLG will provide €10 million under the Capital Assistance Scheme to provide suitable accommodation for people transitioning from institutions in 2016. The HSE estimate that a further 100 people could benefit from this initiative. €1 million in ring-fenced leasing funding is also being made available by the DECLG in 2016 to support people moving from institutions into suitable social housing in the community.

In total, this represents a significant investment and commitment by Government to ensure that citizens with disabilities are given the opportunity to live as ordinary a life as possible in suitable accommodation in the community in line with their own choices and preferences.