Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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1209. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current status of the targets set out in Work streams 8, 9 and 10 within the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024 – 2026; the further measures that have been taken to address the issues highlighted in the Ombudsman's Wasted Lives report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1091/25]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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This Government is committed to the expansion of specialist services for people with disabilities. The Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026 represents a national strategy for capacity increases and service and policy reform in disability services. It was informed by findings from the Disability Capacity Review, published in 2021, in addition to cross-Governmental input and an extensive public consultation.

Implementation of the Action Plan was supported by new development funding of €74 million in 2024, which provided for new residential services places, day services places, personal assistant hours, as well as funding to support growth of respite services, and development of the community neuro-rehabilitation strategy.

In 2025, a record amount of €336 million has been allocated to disability services. This funding will support the realization of the Action Plan though more new residential services, day service places, personal assistance and home support hours, developments in children’s services, respite and community neuro-rehabilitation, as well funding to further progress decongregation. The specific quantities of service to be provided through this additional allocation will be set out in more detail in the HSE’s National Service Plan.

At national level, a Monitoring Group has been set up to review progress with the Action Plan twice-yearly. The Minister of State for Disabilities chairs the Monitoring Group and membership includes representatives from relevant stakeholders such as Disabled Persons’ Organisations, provider umbrella bodies, and the National Disability Authority. The focus of its work is to review progress including identifying any emerging risks or difficulties, in particular those affecting major items in the Action Plan, or where delivery is well off course. Where appropriate and relevant, the Group may make recommendations on how risks or difficulties can be addressed.

Progress on actions, including those under Workstreams 8, 9 and 10 during the first half of 2024 was presented to the Action Plan Monitoring Group in September 2024. A report on this progress and the views of the Monitoring Group has been compiled and can be accessed here: The Monitoring Group will meet again in early 2025 to review how actions progressed in the second half of 2024.

The need for increased services is acknowledged and the HSE continues to work with agencies to explore various ways of responding to this need in line with the budget available.

The Ombudsman's Wasted Lives report, published in 2021, identified a nursing home can be 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 supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.

The latest data from the HSE indicates that as of July 2024, there are 1,242 people under 65s in Nursing Homes. 15% of these residents are under the age of 50.

The HSE is engaging with a cohort of 575 individuals for review and assessment for transition into the community or continued nursing home placements. As of May 2024 (the latest available data), A total of 81 people have transitioned to homes of their choosing in the community since 2021 (the start of the programme). A further 55 individuals are in active planning for potential discharge.

Additionally, 44 individuals have received additional enhanced quality of life supports, while they are currently continuing their placement in a Nursing Home. As of May 2024, the overall number of individuals continuing their nursing home placement is 340. This is mainly due an individual’s current personal will and preference, or a necessity to stay due to an assessment of need.

Due to the work of the U65 Integrated Steering Committee, the Health Region/CHO disability teams and the U65 project team, there is a greater awareness across Acutes, Older Persons and Disability services of the need to prevent U65s being placed in NHs.

The HSE indicate that disability teams have developed a greater level of experience in dealing with the needs of the cohort of people under the age of 65 in nursing homes, and there is an on the ground momentum in planning transitions and working with Nursing Homes. Those individuals who have transitioned have experienced significant improvements in their quality of life. The wasted lives programme is expected to continue to make good progress.