Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1202 and 1203 together.

For many 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.

Measures to prevent people under the age of 65 nursing homes from entering nursing homes continue to be supported through a range of services including respite, home support and personal assistance services.

According to the HSE, there were 1,228 individuals under 65 years in Nursing Homes as of July 2023. 15% of these individuals are less than 50 years of age.

This Government is providing funding to facilitate supports to people to live in their own homes with disabilities, and where inappropriately placed in nursing homes assist young people to move to supported living arrangements.

In 2021 Government provided investment of €3m as part of the HSE National Service Plan (NSP) to enable 18 people under the age of 65yrs to transition to their own home with support.

Budget 2022 provided a further allocation of €5.5m (rising to €13.5m), to address the situation of people with disabilities who may be inappropriately placed in nursing homes. In 2022, 22 transitions took place.

I am informed by the HSE that by the end of August 2023, 20 individuals have moved from nursing homes to more appropriate homes in the community. Further transitions have occurred since August 2023 but figures in this regard are required to be validated. A further 55 individuals are in active planning for potential discharge.

The HSE are currently engaging with 575, or 45%, of individuals in nursing homes to establish the best course of action for their continued care.

It is also understood that nursing homes are, in certain circumstances, an appropriate care option where the person concerned has a clinically-assessed complex medical and social care requirement which cannot be supported in the person’s home. To date, 36 individuals have received additional enhanced quality of life supports while they are currently continuing their placement in a Nursing Home.

My Department continues to liaise with the HSE with regard to young people inappropriately placed in nursing homes to find the most appropriate living solutions for those under the age of 65 living in nursing homes.

Budget 2024 provides unprecedented level of funding of almost €2.9 billion for Disability services. This further reinforces the Programme for Government commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

The Disability Action Plan 2024 - 2026 sets targets for addressing demographic pressures, making significant progress on unmet needs, working to replace remaining congregated and institutional residential care with community-based models, and continuing the reform towards individualised, person-centred models of service while growing service capacity appropriately.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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This is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.