21. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she is taking to address the shortage of respite services in County Clare, including waiting lists for planned and emergency respite; her plans to expand respite capacity in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47275/26]

The Programme for Government 2025 details this Governments commitment to continue the expansion of respite services, to support people with disabilities and their families. The expansion of these vital services will continue this year across both day and overnight services as well as a focus on increasing alternative respite provision, aiming for greater geographical balance in the delivery of services.

As per the HSE’s 2026 National Service Plan, Budget 2026 provides an additional €25million for respite expansion, to support a mix of centre-based, overnight and alternative respite options.

In the region of 500 additional children and adults with a disability are expected to receive respite sessions both centre based and alternative within their community in 2026 and a further 10,000 additional overnight and 25,000 additional day respite sessions are expected to be delivered this year.

This funding will support the development of a range of service openings and expansions across the country, with a particular focus on strengthening provision in areas that currently have a lower level of supports. The HSE have recently undertaken an audit of respite services, in order to get a comprehensive picture of current service provision nationally and provide insights into a range of areas such as unmet need, occupancy levels, data collection and types of respite being offered in different areas.

HSE continues to work with partner agencies to increase respite and residential capacity and deliver additional services. It is anticipated that additional funding provided in 2026 will provide additional overnight and alternative respite for children, young adults and adults in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary with a number of different service providers.

In 2023, a new respite house delivered by Carrowgar Respite Service became operational in Co Clare. This adult and child respite house will provide approximately 1,400 bed nights per year.

To further support disabled people and their families in the area, last year, the HSE and Enable Ireland worked together to increase the capacity of the Hazeldine respite facility in Barefield. This addition will allow for an increase from 700 to 1,400 bed nights to be provided by the end of 2026.

A number of additional overnight and alternative respite services also receiving funding under the National Service Plan 2026, including a number of Corlann services, with services in Milton Malbay, Shannon and Kilrush being enhanced in terms of capacity and utilisation.

Funding has also been provided to services providers to provide additional outreach supports across the Mid West for children with a disability.

Additionally, HSE Mid West have been allocated funding for a Summer Respite Initiative for 35 projects for children, young adults and adults across the Mid West. HSE Mid West is engaging with various service providers to progress these projects which will predominantly be day respite activity. The number of persons who attend these services, number of hours of respite delivered, costings and service user feedback will all be collated to evaluate the impact of this service.

HSE Estates is in the process of considering further opportunities for development in the region under the HSE Capital Plan for disabilities, subject to appropriate consideration and assessment.