Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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1065. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the current number of adults with an intellectual disability waiting for residential placements nationwide, by health region and the duration of these waits, in tabular form. [48153/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, 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.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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1066. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the details of her commitment to funding additional residential placements for adults with an intellectual disability over 2025 to 2026, in particular the number of additional placements committed to and the timeframe for their provision, by heath region, in tabular form. [48154/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to the expansion of services for people with disabilities. Increasing the provision of Specialist Disability Residential Services is a key priority area for this Government and we recognise that the level of demand for these services is very high.

In recognition of this and in support of the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) work to provide and expand services, there has been significant investment in residential services over the course of the last number of years.

In Budget 2025, a total of €3.2 billion was allocated for HSE Disability Services. This amounts to an increase of 11.5% in funding (some €333m), on funding provided in 2024.

Specialist Disability Residential services make up the largest part of the Disability funding disbursed by the HSE, approximately 60% of the total budget.

Budget 2025 provided €107m to residential services for the development of new placements. €79m of this is to meet the incremental cost of new residential services provided in 2024 and €28m is additional funding for new placements which commence in 2025.

From January to July 2025, 113 new residential places have been provided to people with disabilities. Together with 220 new places in 2024, this brings the total current provision of residential places currently being provided by the HSE and contracted service providers to 8,793 - an increase from 8,146 in 2021.

Consideration of Specialist Disability Services and funding requirements for Budget 2026 is ongoing. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has been actively engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the Health Service Executive throughout this process.

Confirmation and further information on funding to be provided will be made public following the announcement of the Budget 2026, later this year.

Following confirmation of 2026 funding, the HSE will publish their 2026 National Service Plan, which will set out expected activity for 2026.

Residential placements will continue to be developed throughout the remainder of 2025 and as such, it is not currently possible to provide complete details regarding placements and timelines on a health region basis.