Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
862. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the key measures taken to improve disability services during 2025; her priorities for same in 2026;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72475/25]
View answerI am committed to delivering on a step-change in supports and services for people with disabilities and their families, ensuring they are enabled to live full lives of their own choosing and on an equitable basis with all others in society.
To support the delivery of this ambition and to help improve disability services for all those who use them, my Department progressed the following in 2025:
• The National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 was published in September. This strategy is Ireland’s comprehensive plan to advance the realisation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It sets out a whole of government approach to disability over the next five years.
• In March, agreement was reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for a 9.25% funding for pay increase between Government Departments and unions representing workers in community and voluntary health and social care organisations. My Department led this process and secured €30m in additional funding for the HSE and €8.5m in additional funding for Tusla, covering the estimated cost of the agreement for 2024 backdated and 2025. The agreement also includes an automatic link to future public sector pay agreements for these workers.
• The HSE Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) workforce data for April 2025 demonstrates the progress that has been made over the past 18 months, with a nationwide increase of 26% in CDNT staffing levels since October 2023. Since October 2024, the CDNT workforce has grown by 142 WTE. Most significantly, the CDNT vacancy rate has reduced from 29% in 2023 to 18% in 2025 - a reduction of 11% nationally.
• In early December, a series of reforms to the Assessment of Need (AON) process was announced. These reforms will make the process more effective and efficient for children and families and move towards more assessments being delivered within the statutory 6-month timeframe. My Department is also working with the HSE to identify further opportunities to enhance processes, improve training, and increase administrative supports for HSE Assessment Officers who are responsible for the production of assessment reports. The provision of an effective and efficient Assessment of Need system continues to be a priority for this Government.
• 1766 school leavers were identified as requiring day service supports or rehabilitative training (RT) for 2025. Of these, 438 chose to defer their placement by up to 5 years while they explore mainstream options such as further education, training and employment. Commencements began in September and are currently at 87% for the year.
• In respect of residential services, 172 Priority 1 places have been delivered as of September 2025. Twenty individuals have been transitioned out of congregated settings, with work continuing to progress further transitions to year end. Twelve people have transitioned out of nursing homes to more appropriate homes in the community, with a further 13 expected by the end of the year.
• My Department has also finalised a Working Paper on Respite which aims to assist in supporting and generating discussion on the future direction of respite.
To enable my Department to continue delivering on a step-change in supports and services for people with disabilities, a total of €3.8 billion has been allocated for Specialist Disability Services in Budget 2026. This represents a 20% increase on 2025 and an overall increase since 2020 of €1.8bn.
Priorities for my Department next year include:
• Delivering 199 residential placements, 58 de-congregation transitions, and 45 transitions from nursing homes for people under 65.
• Providing 1,400 new day service placements for school leavers and rehabilitative training graduates, plus 53 placements for adults who require a day service later in life.
• Enabling the procurement of around 6,500 private assessments of need for long waiting families.
• Enabling people to live independently in their own homes through the provision of over 150,000 home support and personal assistance hours.
• Providing in the region of an additional 10,000 overnight and 25,000 alternative/day respite sessions.
