I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, to the House. He is most welcome to Seanad Éireann.

I welcome the Minister of State. I am raising this matter because it is unacceptable that a person with additional needs who no longer requires acute hospital care can remain in a hospital ward for months simply because funding has not been approved for an appropriate residential placement. I bring to the Minister of State's attention the case of a young woman in her early 30s who has spent approximately 17 weeks in an acute hospital. She is not in hospital because she requires ongoing acute medical treatment. Due to family circumstances, she cannot remain in the family home with her mother. Her father has serious health challenges and is not in a position to physically provide the care she requires. Despite his own medical difficulties, he travels several hours a week to visit her. It is hard to imagine the enormous physical and emotional strain this situation is placing on both of them.

What makes this case particularly unacceptable is that a suitable residential placement is available and this woman has consented to moving there. There is a place waiting for her and the solution is available. However, the family has been told that the HSE does not have the funding available to support that placement. How can we accept leaving a vulnerable young woman in an acute hospital bed for over 17 weeks when an appropriate residential placement is available and she wants it?

I want to highlight the impact this prolonged hospital stay is having on her emotional well-being. Her father described to me a particularly distressing incident involving another vulnerable patient, which left the daughter deeply upset and traumatised. I will speak to the Minister of State in person about that. I am making this point without any criticism of the other patient, who is vulnerable and deserving of care and dignity, but it illustrates why an acute hospital ward is not an appropriate long-term living environment for a young woman with a learning disability who requires a stable, supportive residential setting. She is surrounded by patients who are seriously unwell. She has no certainty about when she will be able to leave. She is living in an environment that is not designed to meet her needs. Seventeen weeks is not a temporary delay. It is more than four months of a person's life. At the same time, an acute hospital bed is being occupied unnecessarily when our hospitals are already under huge pressure. It makes no sense from a clinical, financial or, most important, human perspective. I am asking the HSE to urgently review this particular case and approve the funding required to allow this young woman to move into the residential placement that is waiting for her.

I am also raising a wider issue. How many other people with learning disabilities or additional care needs across our country are occupying acute hospital beds despite being medically fit for discharge because funding for appropriate residential care has not been approved? These individuals cannot become trapped in hospital wards because of administrative delays or exhausted funding allocations. I am calling on the Minister to ensure that all outstanding business cases for appropriate residential placements for people with disabilities who are medically fit for discharge are identified, assessed and included in supplementary budget funding before the end of the year. I am really asking for three commitments: that the HSE urgently review this woman's placement; that the Minister establish how many people with disabilities are medically fit for discharge from acute hospitals but remain because residential placement funding has not been approved; and that the outstanding business cases for these placements be prioritised for supplementary funding before the end of 2026, with a clear time line for decisions on discharges. This woman has already spent 17 weeks waiting. There is a place for her to go to and she has agreed to go to it. The solution is there; what is missing is the funding and the decision to make it happen. I am asking the Minister to intervene and give a bit of certainty.

I will end by going back to the person who has drawn my attention to this issue. She is deemed medically and clinically fit to be discharged but her right to live her life to the best of her ability is being denied.

I thank Senator Costello for advocating on behalf of this woman. While a place is available, a delay of 17 weeks does not make sense and is unacceptable, as Senator Costello said. Without going into further detail here, I will bring the case to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Foley, and whoever else needs to be aware of the situation because it is not something we can stand over.

What I will do is outline the improvements and the efforts being made to expand and increase residential care right across Ireland. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality provides funding to the HSE to deliver specialist disability services, either directly or via section 38 and section 39 voluntary sector organisations, as well as for-profit organisations. While the Department sets the strategy, policy direction and overall allocation for the disability sector, funding allocations to individual service providers are an operational matter for the HSE as the funding authority on behalf of the State. The HSE advises that residential placements are allocated based on the greatest presenting need and potential associated risks. Following referral and assessment, available placements are allocated to disabled persons on the basis of priority, need and available resources, in consultation with the individual and their family.

This Government together with the HSE acknowledges that demand for disability services, particularly residential services, is very high. The Government remains committed to providing and expanding residential services. Increased funding provided to the HSE 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 2027 delivers significant progress for disabled children and adults, bringing the budget for disability services to over €4 billion for the first time. This will support the HSE to provide a range of community services and supports to enable people with disabilities to live a life of their choosing. In respect of residential services, while continuing to fund existing placements, this budget will provide additional investment of €108 million 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. Subject to finalisation of the HSE’s 2027 national service plan, this is expected to support 212 newly created placements, approximately 100 of which will be planned placements.

The majority of those who avail of those placements will move from their family home. Funding will also support a number of new placements into existing vacant places with necessary enhancements and a range of further residential measures, including enhancements for existing residential places where individual needs have become more complex. The provision of residential services has come under increasing pressure in the past few years due to a number of impacting factors, such as the increase in the number of individuals seeking access to residential services as a reflection of general population increase, changing support needs of individuals and the availability of suitable housing.

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality is engaging with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Authority and the HSE to explore means of responding to the need for additional capacity, which can assist forward planning and cost-effective placements. Additionally, the HSE and local authorities are working together through regional inter-agency groups to develop and advance plans for delivering housing to people with disabilities.

While that probably does not answer some of Senator Costello's specific questions, it outlines that the Minister, Deputy Foley, is securing extra funding and resources to expand placements across Ireland. Regarding the individual the Senator mentioned, we will absolutely have to look at that. As I said, it is not acceptable. It also means that such hospital beds, including acute beds, being used to accommodate that individual could be used for someone else if the individual in question were put in a proper residential care suitable to her needs. I again thank the Senator for raising it and I will do my best to find a resolution.

I thank the Minister of State for his answer. I am deeply disappointed with the HSE. When I made my representation regarding this case, it took two weeks to receive a response. If my office operated at that pace, questions would be asked by me. It is very disappointing. The Minister of State's response mentioned priority and need. Knowing what I know about this case, I cannot imagine anyone in such a dire state at the moment. It is a deeply traumatising and has lasted 17 weeks. I do not want to hear at Christmas that person is still in an acute hospital bed which would indicate a complete failure.

All I can do is to conclude by saying I know the Minister, Deputy Foley, is fully committed to expanding residential services and residential places for the likes of the individual the Senator is talking about. If it gives any comfort, I will bring this to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Foley. I know the Senator will do so also and that is why she raised it on the on the floor of the Seanad today. I will continue to stay in touch with her and we will try to get a resolution to this.