Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
106. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she plans to increase supports available to assist with ageing parents of adult children with intellectual disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13272/26]
View answerThis Government recognises the vital work carried out by family carers of people with disabilities. It recognises too the importance of the voice of the person with the disability and that they may have certain wishes about their own future.
The Programme for Government commits to developing a multi-year capital plan for investment in residential and independent living options for both adults and children, and to tackle waiting lists for specialist disability services by implementation of the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-6, and resourcing and delivering on its targets.
There are currently a number of supports available to assist ageing parents in supporting their adult children with disabilities. These supports include day services, respite services, home support services, personal assistance and residential supports.
These supports are aimed at enabling people with disabilities to remain in their family homes for as long as they and their families wish. However, the Department acknowledges that in many cases, a person with an intellectual disability will require full-time residential care once their main carers are no longer in a position to provide the necessary supports.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality, alongside the HSE, is continuing to work to increase provision in order to assist those who are most vulnerable in our society, and who urgently require services.
The HSE, together with approximately 90 service providers are currently providing 8,911 residential places to people with disabilities. From 2020 to 2025, 955 new residential places have been provided to people with disabilities, including 246 places provided in 2025 alone.
As the Deputy may be aware, Budget 2026 provided funding of approximately €3.8 billion to Specialist Disability Services.
In addition to funding ongoing residential placements for almost 9000 current residents, €65m has been allocated to Disability Residential Services in 2026 for new developments, which includes €40m of funding that will provide a minimum of 199 residential responses.
This includes 72 new planned placements and 80 new unplanned, urgent placements, a total of 152 new placements, as outlined in the HSE’s National Service Plan for 2026, which includes details of a move towards a more planned and responsive system of service provision and an increased emphasis on longer term planning for residential placements, with strengthened operational processes being put in place to respond to the current high demand. It will also support new residents in existing placements that have become vacant and require enhancement and in limited circumstances, placements in nursing home settings.
Funding of €25m has been provided in 2026 in order to increase the provision of respite services, including 10,000 additional respite overnights, and 25,000 additional day-only respite sessions.
In 2026, €12.09m has been provided in order to increase the provision of Home support and Personal assistance hours for people with disabilities.
Funding for these measures will help to assist people with disabilities who have ageing parents and require supports in order to have more independence in the daily lives of their choosing.
