Written answers

Wednesday, 3 May 2023

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Nursing Homes

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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363. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if will report on the progress of the €3 billion allocation to remove 18 young adults from the nursing home setting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20581/23]

Photo of Anne RabbitteAnne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Ombudsman’s Report ‘Wasted Lives’ looks at the appropriateness of the placement of people under 65 in nursing homes.

We know that nursing homes are an appropriate care option where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement that cannot be supported in the person’s home. However, for some people under the age of 65 nursing homes are not an appropriate placement, and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.

There is a clear Government commitment to reduce and provide a pathway to eliminate the practice of accommodating young people with serious disabilities in nursing homes.In this context, work has been ongoing with the HSE to address nursing home care of people under 65 who wish to live elsewhere.

In 2021 this Government provided for a Pilot Scheme as part of the HSE National Service Plan (NSP) to enable 18 people, with an investment of €3 million, under the age of 65yrs to transition to their own home with support. This allocation was fully disbursed across all nine CHO Areas.

Budget 2022 provided a further allocation of €5.5 million to address the situation of people with disabilities who may be inappropriately placed in nursing homes, thus commencing the move of a further cohort of individuals from 2022.

Funding of €16.8m is provided in 2022/2023 to support the move of inappropriately placed under 65s from nursing homes.

I am advised by the HSE that for 2021 that 14 transitions took place.From January 2022 to February 2023, 28 people have transitioned from Nursing Homes to homes of their choosing in the community.

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