Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
865. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether she acknowledges that independence for adults with intellectual disabilities includes the right to live with dignity, choice, and proximity to friends and community, rather than solely focusing on individual tenancies dispersed across wide geographic areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14427/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra868. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the way in which her Department works with housing authorities to ensure that independent living does not result in isolation, loneliness, or loss of community for people with intellectual disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14430/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 865 and 868 together.
This Government recognises that disabled people have a right to have access to a range of residential, and other community support services, which enable living and inclusion in the community.
Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion was established under the Transforming Lives Programme. It is a model of support where people with disabilities are supported to move from congregated settings, often large institutions to their own homes in the community, with the supports they need.
When a person is transitioning from a congregated setting, they are transitioned into more appropriate homes in the community. Decongregation is progressing and continues to demonstrate very positive results for service users who have transitioned to living in homes in community settings. Additionally, in line with decongregation policy, places lost to decongregation are not ordinarily filled again. Therefore, all new residential placements are community based.
The HSE, together with approximately 90 service providers are providing 8,911 residential places to people with disabilities. At the end of April 2025, there were 1,335 individuals remaining in the HSE tracked congregated settings.
The predominant model of residential support nationally, in line with the ‘Time to Move on from Congregated settings- a strategy for community inclusion’ report published in 2012, is housing in community settings with person centred supports. Residential services are typically provided in a four-bedroom house, where four people share staffing supports and a home. In some instances, in line with will and preference, assessed need, or compatibility with others, a person may live alone, or with a smaller group of individuals. This model of support provides people who live in residential services with the opportunity to live with and engage with their peers where that is their will and preference.
The main goal of this model of support is to foster community inclusion, and to provide supports to ensure that a person living in a residential service has the option to engage with the community where it is their will and preference. This assists in tackling loneliness and isolation.
When a person is living in a residential service, part of their care plan is to develop a personal plan which includes the residents’ assessed needs, and outlines supports required in order to maximise residents’ personal developments in, in accordance with their needs, likes and preference. In some cases, these supports can include helping a person to independently venture into the community, or to engage with the community with the support of staff where required. The Deputy might also note that in some cases, an individual residing in a residential service may be engaging in education or employment in the wider community, which broadens the spectrum of engagement. Where a resident wishes, they may also attend a day service, which allows for engagement with a wider group of peers, and indeed engagement in the community. These supports allow people in residential services to live meaningful lives of their choosing in the community.
It is important to note that all residential centres are regulated by the Health Information and Quality Authority’s (HIQA). HIQA's disability inspection team is legally responsible for the monitoring, inspection, and registration of all designated residential centres for adults and children with a disability.
Inspections of Residential centres are carried out by HIQA to assess compliance with the Health Act 2007 (as amended), the Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for Persons (Children and Adults) with Disabilities) Regulations 2013, and the Health Act 2007 (Registration of Designated Centres for Persons (Children and Adults) with Disabilities) Regulations 2013.
There are a number of Regulations that pertain to person centred supports including:
• Under Regulation 13(2)(b) The registered provider shall provide the following for residents; opportunities to participate in activities in accordance with their interests, capacities and developmental needs.
• Under Regulation 09(2)(b) The registered provider shall ensure that each resident, in accordance with his or her wishes, age and the nature of his or her disability has the freedom to exercise choice and control in his or her daily life.
• Under Regulation 09(2)(d) The registered provider shall ensure that each resident, in accordance with his or her wishes, age and the nature of his or her disability has access to advocacy services and information about his or her rights.
When an individual is referred to disability residential services, every effort is made by the HSE and local and regional health areas to ensure the provision of residential services for the service user is close to family and natural supports, and that a person’s own will and preference is considered when providing residential care.
When the HSE seek a residential placement, the residential service offered will be tailored to the requirements of the individual regarding both accommodation and support. The HSE advises that while every effort is made by the referring agency to ensure the provision of residential services is close to family and natural supports, there are multiple important factors to be considered simultaneously, in order to source a residential placement that will best meet the unique and assessed needs and requirements of each individual.
In some circumstances, these factors together with the high demand for residential placements may lead to the offer being made of a residential placement some distance from the service user’s natural home.
Prior to placement, consultation with every individual and their family is undertaken, and consent is documented as part of the decision-making process. The HSE advises that each case is reviewed regularly where a transition closer to home is the will and preference of the individual. These actions are aligned with the principles of the UNCRPD and HSE’s commitment to equality and human rights.
The HSE advise that it is endeavouring to offer individuals the option of living in residential services closer to own communities through increasing capacity of residential services in the Regional Health Areas.
In order to build capacity and increase the provision of residential services, in 2026, €65m has been allocated to Disability Residential Services in 2026 for new developments, which includes €40m of funding that will provide in the region 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.
The HSE National Service Plan for 2026 also 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. The ambition is that this move towards a more planned response to residential services in the long run can ensure better planning and outcomes for people with disabilities who require services.
