1049. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department is considering a review or revision of the implementation of the Time to Move on from Congregated Settings policy developed under the Transforming Lives Programme. [65258/26]

This Government’s policy on decongregation, Time to Move on from Congregated Settings is intended to support people with disabilities to move from large (10 person or more) or campus-style congregated settings into ordinary homes in the community, with individualised supports, in line with Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Ireland ratified in 2018.

Overall, Time to Move on from Congregated Settings remains one of the most important Irish disability policies, and it is important to note that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) continue to advise of their findings that residents have a much better quality of life in a community-based settings compared to a congregated setting. Generally, a community-based setting means that residents live with a smaller number of people and have more control and choice over their daily routines.

Prior to the transition of people out of congregated settings, the HSE ensure on a case-by-case basis, that the new community-based placement is suitable for an individual including to ensure will, preference and unique needs are taken into account, with compatibility with other residents of the new home also considered.

This Government recognises that the implementation of this policy must take place in a context where demand for residential services is increasing significantly. Decongregation cannot be pursued in isolation and must be accompanied by the expansion of other disability supports such as residential, respite, home support and personal assistance, so that people can access the right support at the right time and, where possible, before a crisis arises.

Increasing the provision of disability services is a key priority for this Government and 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 overall budget increase from €1.7bn at the close of 2017 to close to €3.9bn in 2026 for specialist disability services, reflects the Programme for Government commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities, signalling to those with a disability that this Government is committed to making a difference to their lives.

Additionally, and as per commitments contained in the programme for Government and the national human rights strategy, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is developing a new vision and reform strategy for disability services. This work will be critical in ensuring we can deliver high-quality, flexible, human rights-based services to those who need them into the future.

The strategy will set out an ambitious and far-reaching programme of reform to improve services over time and gives us an opportunity to look at how to fund and deliver services and set in place a plan to reform services to create more effective governance and more efficient systems, to work towards the delivery of more person-centred supports for disabled people.

The Department has been working closely with stakeholders on this new reform strategy, including advocacy groups, disability umbrella groups and representative bodies and is working to make the concept of "right support, right place, right time" a key pillar of policy and implementation.

Furthermore, throughout 2026 the Department is also undertaking research and progressing policy development, with a view to developing a new policy framework for specialist disability residential services. This policy development process will consider a wide range of matters relevant to specialist residential services, including models of service.

The Department is also advancing the development of a policy framework on community-based supports, including respite, home support and personal assistance. These supports play a critical role in enabling disabled peoples’ independence and participation in their communities. Engagement with stakeholders, particularly those in receipt of these services, will be an important part of the reform programme under way.