Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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1431. To ask the Minister for Health the response of his Department to the findings of the Cost of Disability in Ireland research report; the plans that will be made in quarter one 2022 in response to these findings; if he will implement an all-Department response which will be timescaled and measured to ensure everyday costs are reduced for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63219/21]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Indecon Report on the Cost of Disability was commissioned by the Department of Employment and Social Protection. Please see the relevant press release here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/b013c-government-publishes-the-cost-of-disability-research-report/

The report suggests the need for a multifaceted approach involving measures to support additional income, targeted grants, and better services or supports free of charge. The Government has referred the report to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group (NDISSG), for its consideration and future monitoring of actions. The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) is a whole-of-government strategy, chaired by the Minister for Disability Services, that brings together relevant departments and agencies to develop coordinated policy and action on improving the lives of persons with disabilities. Members of the NDISSG have been asked to look at the implications of the report for their own areas of service delivery and the Report will be further discussed at the next meeting of the Strategy’s Steering Group.  

This Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. Our determination to improve services and supports for people with disabilities and their families is clear in our Programme for Government. The Health Budget 2022 provides an additional package of €115m (including €10m one-off Covid funding for specialist community-based disability services which are delivered or funded by the HSE, and builds on the €100m funding allocated in 2021 to enhance these specialist disability services.   

The Disability Capacity Review to 2032 sets out the Disability Social Care Demand and Capacity Requirements up to 2032.  This review has carefully drawn on best available evidence and information to estimate the scale of current outstanding need for HSE-funded disability services, and how the scale and shape of need is likely to evolve over the years to 2032. 

Work is underway on preparing an Action Plan for Disability Services 2022-2025, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to work towards implementing the Disability Capacity Review.