Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1067. To ask the Minister for Health the amount that has been spent on moving persons from congregated settings in County Kerry since the beginning of this model; the number of persons who have now been placed in decongregated settings in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1642/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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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 2017, less than 2,500 people with a disability were living in congregated settings. The HSE's 2018 National Service Plan has set a target of 170 people to move from institutions to community living this year. 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.

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 question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy with specific regard to the information sought by the Deputy in relation to Kerry.