2947. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the actions she is taking to address the situation whereby 1,209 people under the age of 65 are currently living in nursing homes due to a lack of appropriate community-based support options, including 169 people under the age of 50; her plans to provide suitable alternative accommodation and supports to enable these individuals to live independently within their communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57814/26]

This Government acknowledges that a nursing home can be an appropriate care option where the person concerned has a clinically assessed complex medical and social care requirement that cannot be supported in the person’s home.

However, as identified in the Ombudsman Report “Wasted Lives: Time for a better future for younger people in Nursing Homes,” for the majority of people under the age of 65 nursing homes are not an appropriate placement and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.

The Programme for Government commits to continue to work to end the practice of placing young people with disabilities in nursing homes. In recognition of this commitment the HSE's 2026 National Service Plan allocated a record €10m to the under 65s (U65) work programme. €8m of this funding will enable 45 people who are inappropriately placed in a nursing home to transition to more appropriate living arrangements.

The remaining €2m will provide Enhanced Quality of Life Supports (EQLS) to those who remain in nursing home settings. In addition, the U65 programme has also been awarded Dormant Account Funding for 2026 of €736k, which will be directed towards once-off funding for EQLS.

EQLS are aimed at improving an individual’s quality of daily life in a nursing home, increasing social access and where appropriate, to support the pre-transition work, to help individuals prepare for a move back into the community.

Specifically, these EQLS supports range from iPads, laptops, audio books & headphones, TV in own room, motorised wheelchairs, mobility deceives, communication devices, exercise Bikes, PA, therapeutic and allied supports.

Data provided by the HSE indicates that as of May 2026, there are 1,137 people under the age of 65 residing in nursing homes.

As of May 2026, funding provided to the U65 programme has enabled a total of 126 people under the age of 65, who were residing in nursing homes to move into more appropriate community settings.

Additionally, over 300 individuals have received additional enhanced quality of life supports (EQLS), while they are continuing their placement in a Nursing Home.

Based on data from the HSE's U65 Operational Tracker, the majority of those continuing a Nursing Home placement do so in line with their current personal will and preference (which Disability Services review regularly in recognition that their wishes may change with time).

A further cohort remain due to their current assessment of needs requirements. Such complex medical and social care needs may require intensive nursing and medical care that cannot be provided in a home setting or by family members.

In response to the Ombudsman’s Wasted Lives report, the HSE is co-ordinating a programme of work at both the Health Regions (RHA) and at national levels, to progressively address the Wasted Lives Report review and implement the report’s recommendations for which the HSE has accountability.

At national level, there is an U65 Programme Office and the Implementation Project Team. The implementation programme has been divided into 5 work streams as follows:

1. Quality of life and model of service development – “A Place to Call Home”

2. Funding and personal finances

3. Services access and navigation

4. Informed consent policy and human rights

5. Nursing Home U65 survey

At local Health Regions/CHOs, there is an identified U65 lead per CHO, who is responsible for progressing U65s transitions and working with individual disability case managers.

Preventing entry to nursing home facilities requires a model of service that supports the changing needs of individuals and allows them to continue to live a life of their choosing in the community. Therefore, the HSE along with Voluntary and Private organisations are providing a variety of supports to people with disabilities including personal assistants, peer supports, respite, day services, home supports, advocacy and digital and assistive technology. These supports are governed by a diverse range of health and social care policies and ongoing programmes and aim to enable young persons from entering nursing homes where possible.

The main source of admissions of people under the age of under 65 into nursing homes is discharges from acute hospital settings where the individual has a complex medical need such as an acquired brain injury.

HSE data shows the impact that wider policies have on the numbers of U65s in Nursing Homes, with particular focus on the Acute Hospital winter discharge programme and its sustained focus on increased discharge rates and turnaround times from Acute hospitals.

Due to the work of the Under 65s Integrated Steering Committee and project team, there is a greater awareness across HSE Acutes, Older Persons and Disability services of the need to prevent people under the age of 65 from being placed in Nursing Homes.