Written answers
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Disability Services
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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1343. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of residential places for people with a disability currently being provided as of 1 December 2023 or latest date available, by CHO area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56746/23]
Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Due to the Forsa industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October 2023 by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, my Department is providing data from September 2023, the latest available data on the number of residential places for people with a disability.
Residential services make up the largest part of the Disability funding disbursed by the HSE, 58% of the total budget, and approximately 90 service providers provide residential services to over 8,000 individuals throughout the country. The bulk of these are provided by the 50 highest funded agencies (comprising both Section 38 & Section 39 organisations).
It is important to note that residential capacity in the system can be reduced. When residents of congregated settings sadly pass away, their places are not ordinarily re-utilised. This is in keeping with Government policy which is to move away from institutionalised settings (i.e. Time to Move On from Congregate Settings).
I am informed by the HSE that by the end of September 2023, there were 8355 residential places for people with a disability.
The table below shows the number of residential places available at end of September, broken down by CHO Area. This is the latest data available.
| CHO Area | Residential Places Available September, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| CHO 1 | 694 | |
| CHO 2 | 874 | |
| CHO 3 | 798 | |
| CHO 4 | 1,130 | |
| CHO 5 | 914 | |
| CHO 6 | 552 | |
| CHO 7 | 1,188 | |
| CHO 8 | 945 | |
| CHO 9 | 1,260 | |
| Total | 8,355 |
Priority 1 (Emergency) Placements
The table below shows the number of new priority 1 residential placements provided to end of September 2023, broken down by CHO Area.
| CHO Area | New Emergency Residential Placements end September 2023 |
|---|---|
| 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 11 |
| 3 | 14 |
| 4 | 13 |
| 5 | 6 |
| 6 | 8 |
| 7 | 17 |
| 8 | 19 |
| 9 | 9 |
| Total | 103 |
In accordance with the NSP 2024, the HSE continues to prioritise residential services include planned and where needed, emergency placements and care. Funding has been allocated to provide a range of residential supports including as follows:
- Provision of circa 100 Priority 1 placements for immediate occupation.
- Increasing the occupancy of existing respite capacity where feasible and alternative respite provision, including in-home respite support hours and group-based targeted measures such as summer camps and evening provision.
- Continue the transition of people from institutional settings to community-based services in line with Time to Move on from Congregated Settings policy and the recommendations of Wasted Lives: Time for a better future for younger people in nursing homes, with a specific focus on continuing to support individuals to move into more appropriate community-based settings, within available funding.
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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1344. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of new emergency places provided to people with a disability as of 1 December 2023 or latest date available, by CHO area, in tabular form. [56747/23]
Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Due to the Forsa industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October 2023 by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, my Department is providing data from September 2023, the latest available data on the number of residential places for people with a disability.
Residential services make up the largest part of the Disability funding disbursed by the HSE, 58% of the total budget, and approximately 90 service providers provide residential services to over 8,000 individuals throughout the country. The bulk of these are provided by the 50 highest funded agencies (comprising both Section 38 & Section 39 organisations).
It is important to note that residential capacity in the system can be reduced. When residents of congregated settings sadly pass away, their places are not ordinarily re-utilised. This is in keeping with Government policy which is to move away from institutionalised settings (i.e. Time to Move On from Congregate Settings).
I am informed by the HSE that by the end of September 2023, there were 8355 residential places for people with a disability.
The table below shows the number of residential places available at end of September, broken down by CHO Area. This is the latest data available.
| CHO Area | Residential Places Available September, 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| CHO 1 | 694 | |
| CHO 2 | 874 | |
| CHO 3 | 798 | |
| CHO 4 | 1,130 | |
| CHO 5 | 914 | |
| CHO 6 | 552 | |
| CHO 7 | 1,188 | |
| CHO 8 | 945 | |
| CHO 9 | 1,260 | |
| Total | 8,355 |
The table below shows the number of new priority 1 residential placements provided to end of September 2023, broken down by CHO Area.
| CHO Area | New Emergency Residential Placements end September 2023 |
|---|---|
| 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 11 |
| 3 | 14 |
| 4 | 13 |
| 5 | 6 |
| 6 | 8 |
| 7 | 17 |
| 8 | 19 |
| 9 | 9 |
| Total | 103 |
- Provision of circa 100 Priority 1 placements for immediate occupation.
- Increasing the occupancy of existing respite capacity where feasible and alternative respite provision, including in-home respite support hours and group-based targeted measures such as summer camps and evening provision.
- Continue the transition of people from institutional settings to community-based services in line with Time to Move on from Congregated Settings policy and the recommendations of Wasted Lives: Time for a better future for younger people in nursing homes, with a specific focus on continuing to support individuals to move into more appropriate community-based settings, within available funding.
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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1345. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people with a disability in receipt of personal assistance hours in each LHO area as of 1 December 2023 or latest date available; the number of people currently on the waiting list for same in each LHO area; and the number waiting less than 6, between 6-12, 12-18 and more than 18 months, in tabular form. [56748/23]
Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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1346. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people with a disability in receipt of home support hours in each LHO area as of 1 December 2023 or latest date available; the number of people currently on the waiting list for same in each LHO area; and the number waiting less than 6, between 6-12, and the number waiting less than 6, between 12-18, and more than 18 months, in tabular form. [56749/23]
Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
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