Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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159. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for an update on the additional funding allocated to residential placements for adults with an intellectual disability in 2025; the number of places that will be provided in CHO 4; if additional funding will be allocated in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52235/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Nationally, 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.

The HSE advises that HSE South West Disability Services has commenced 17 Priority 1 adult residential placements to date in 2025. This figure does not include placements into vacant residential settings, which are accessed through the Regional Residential Forum.

In addition are transitions from congregated settings or people under the age of 65 transitioning out of a nursing home into community settings. A more complete and comprehensive dataset relating to 2025 residential placements will be available by year end.

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, in the coming weeks.

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