Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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349. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of funding that has been allocated to local authorities in each of the past five years for the provision of housing to facilitate the movement of persons with disabilities from congregated settings to decongregated settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15045/17]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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350. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of funding that has been sought and allocated to Louth County Council for the facilitation of the policy of decongregation in each year for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15046/17]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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351. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of funding that has been sought and allocated by housing associations for the facilitation of the policy of decongregation within County Louth in each year for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15047/17]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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352. To ask the Minister for Health if persons with disabilities who require 24-hour care and currently reside in a congregated setting will be afforded the same level of care in a decongregated setting; and if so, the mechanism for delivering this provision. [15048/17]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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353. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons currently resident in congregated settings. [15049/17]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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354. To ask the Minister for Health the definition of a congregated setting. [15050/17]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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355. To ask the Minister for Health the process of consultation with families of those persons currently living in congregated settings regarding their potential movement to decongregated settings. [15051/17]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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356. To ask the Minister for Health the location of decongregated homes for persons with disabilities in County Louth; and the tutelage of each decongregated setting. [15052/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 349 to 356, inclusive, together.

The HSE’s report “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion”,(2011) proposes a new model of support in the community by moving people from institutional settings to the community. The plan is being rolled out at a regional and local level and involves full consultation with stakeholders.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to continue to move people with disabilities out of congregated settings, to enable them to live independently and to be included in the community. In May 2016, 2725 people lived in congregated settings and our objective is to reduce this figure by one-third by 2021 and ultimately, to eliminate all congregated settings. A congregated setting is defined as a residential setting where people live with ten or more people.

The HSE has established a subgroup, under ‘Transforming Lives’,the Programme to implement the recommendations of the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services, which is developing an implementation plan for moving people from institutions. I welcome the fact that the needs of people moving from congregated settings will be fully taken into account during this process as the model of care for individuals will be based on a person centred plan.

At the end of December 2016, less than 2,600 people with a disability were living in congregated settings. The HSE's 2017 National Service Plan has set a target of 223 to move from institutions in 2017. This will ensure that people are able to move out of congregated settings, and into their own homes in the community. I want to emphasise that the appropriate supports and resources are being put in place to ensure that people are supported as they move out of residential centres.

Issues in relation to the funding of Local Authorities is a matter for my colleague the Minister for the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. I am pleased to note that the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government is providing funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) to provide suitable accommodation for people transitioning from institutions in 2017. CAS funding will also be available to provide housing for people with disabilities in the community more generally that is not specifically targeted at deinstitutionalisation.

This demonstrates the joined up commitment of both Departments to support the de-congregation programme.

As the HSE is responsible for leading out on the recommendations on "Time to Move on from Congregated Settings - A Strategy for Community Inclusion",I have arranged for the Deputy's questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.