834. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality for a breakdown of the 212 residential places funded under budget 2027; the rationale for reserving 112 of these places exclusively for emergency admissions rather than planned residential care transitions; the strategy in place to move away from a reactive crisis-driven residential model to a proactive, planned model for aging parents caring for adult children with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73970/26]

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality continues to engage closely with the HSE on matters related to expanding residential services and improving communication with disabled people and their families. A key focus of this Government and the HSE, is an increased emphasis on longer term planning for residential services.

As of August 2026, 9,015 specialist disability residential places are being delivered by approximately 90 service providers. In recognition of the high demand for residential services, increasing funding has been provided to the HSE which has supported the creation of over 1,000 new specialist disability residential places since 2020 including 142 new places from January to August 2026.

Budget 2026 provided funding for planned residential services under a new initiative, together with increased HSE staffing at regional level dedicated specifically to housing and residential services. These roles will ensure appropriate assessments and ongoing review of residential placements and will enhance co-ordination with local authorities as part of Housing and Disability Steering Groups under the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027.

Budget 2027 aims to build on the work of this year, including provision for an increased number of new planned places. While the preference is to provide planned provision of residential services where appropriate, in many circumstances, a placement is required to be delivered in response to urgent needs arising. The HSE advise that it must ensure that services are allocated on the basis of greatest presenting need and associated risk factors. In recognition of changing needs and circumstances, Budget 2026 and Budget 2027 allocate funding for a range of residential measures including both new planned placements as well as new placements to meet urgent emerging needs.

Budget 2027 delivers significant progress for disabled children and adults, bringing the budget for Disability Services to over €4billion for the first time. While continuing to fund existing placements, this Budget will provide additional investment of €108.4million for residential services, which includes the full year cost of 2026 service delivery and a further expansion of services in 2027.

This additional investment includes €62.4million for new developments. This will support a range of residential measures including new placements as well as enhancements for existing residential places where individual needs have become more complex. Subject to finalisation of the HSE’s 2027 National Service Plan, this is expected to support 489 new residential responses including 212 newly created placements (including approximately 100 planned and 112 placements to respond to urgent need), the majority of whom will move from their family home.

This funding will also support a number of new placements into existing vacant places with necessary enhancements as well as continuing to support the transition of disabled people under the age of 65 living in nursing homes to more appropriate homes in the community while also supporting further transitions from congregated settings into community-based placements, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

In addition to residential services, Budget 2027 will fund a range of other measures to support disabled people and their families/carers include day services, respite services, home support and personal assistance. These supports play a critical role in enabling independence and community participation. Respite continues to be a key priority area for this Department alongside the HSE, to support disabled people and their families with significant investment in respite services provided over the last few years. Budget 2027 will provide investment of €15million in respite services, providing for the full year cost of 2026 activity and allowing for the expansion of services in 2027. This expansion of services is in response to the increasing demand for flexible, person-centred respite supports while strengthening the sustainability of family care arrangements and reducing reliance on crisis-driven interventions.

Minister Browne and I, along with our Officials, have made significant progress, through the implementation structures established under the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027, in improving coordination with the Local Authorities and disability service providers at local, regional and national level.

This includes working collaboratively to support the setting of targets in the upcoming local authority Housing Development Action Plans (HDAPs) for two cohorts of disabled people, those living more independently in the community and those with greater support needs who require specialist disability residential services.

Further to the work outlined above, throughout 2026 the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is undertaking research and progressing policy development, with a view to developing a new policy framework for specialist residential services. The policy development process will consider a wide range of matters relevant to specialist residential services including models of service. Engagement and consultation with stakeholders, particularly those with lived experience, will be an important part of this policy development process. At the centre of the development of the policy will be the progressive implementation of the UNCRPD.