THE GOVERNMENT will today announce plans to allow as many people with disabilities as possible to live independently in their own homes rather than institutions or residential care homes.
At least 3,500 people with disabilities currently live in outdated institutions or group homes with 10 or more residents. These are now considered unsuitable for their needs.
No new funding is expected to be announced at the launch of the strategy today. Instead, housing and health authorities will be expected to shift resources away from so-called congregated settings towards supported or independent placements in the community.
Significant sums are currently spent on residential institutions. For example, the Health Service Executive spends about €1.4 billion on disability services each year.
Of this, some €470 million is invested in congregated settings. The vast majority of this, 83 per cent, is spent on staffing costs.
The new strategy, to be launched by Minister of State for Housing Willie Penrose today, will direct housing authorities and the HSE to deliver housing and supports for people with disabilities based on their needs.
He said the move will redirect the efforts of State bodies and voluntary agencies away from “managing institutionalised dependency” toward a system which gives people more choice and independence.
The strategy takes account of the recommendations of the recent report of the HSE on congregated settings which recommended the phased transition of people – mainly with intellectual disabilities – from larger-scale institutions over a seven-year period.
Mr Penrose conceded that the aims were ambitious and said they would only succeed if there was full commitment from all agencies involved.
“It is absolutely critical that housing is supported by the commitment to the ongoing provision of the necessary health, care, personal and social supports required in order that these people can lead fully inclusive lives in their community,” he said.
While launching the strategy at a time of major economic difficulties was a challenge for everyone, Mr Penrose said it also provided an opportunity to make the best use of existing resources.
The Minister responsible for mental health Kathleen Lynch said the strategy was the first time that the housing needs of people with disabilities were being addressed in a “targeted, whole of Government approach”.
“Suitable housing and secure tenancies must be complemented by equitable access to education, training and employment; the provision of person-centred health and care supports and effective community participation,” she said.
The new strategy forms part of the recent housing policy statement published by the Government earlier this summer.
This placed greater emphasis on partnerships with voluntary agencies in sourcing social housing rather than the State playing a lead role in building more accommodation.
