2026-04-23

137. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the measures being taken by her Department and the HSE to ensure continuity of care for young people with disabilities transitioning from child to adult services, particularly in CHO areas serving north Dublin; whether additional residential, respite and personal assistance capacity is planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17676/26]

This issue has been raised and it is represented in a large part of my constituency. I speak of the Before We Die campaign. Its representatives were in the committee yesterday and I met the parents involved. I welcome the statement from the Minister of State in response to other Deputies who raised this matter today that it is being reviewed. I hope it will be examined. It is a very simple and profound issue. I understand, having spoken to the Minister of State, that she is going to work on it. This is about dignity and choice. Having spoken to the parents, they need and deserve to know before they die what will happen to their children.

I thank Deputy Heneghan. This question relates to the continuity of care and day services. The HSE advises that disability services integrated service area, Dublin North County, and integrated service area, Dublin North City and West, in the Dublin north-east region provides a range of supports for adults with disabilities, their families and carers, including home support, personal assistance services, respite services, day services and registered residential services, subject to assessed need and service availability. The Deputy asked about people with disabilities transitioning from child to adult services. I point to the HSE day opportunities team which works closely with CDNTs to support transfer to HSE-funded adult services, where appropriate. Referrals for transition planning may be made from the age of 16 and families are invited to information sessions to meet local service providers, including those offering rehabilitative training. That gives people the opportunity to engage with those day services up to two years before the person takes up a place. It is really about supporting people through that transition. The HSE national day services team is reviewing the transition process and information that young people and their families require when transitioning from services to school. This includes working with the multidisciplinary young adult teams in place for rehabilitative training and school leavers to standardise referral pathways. The national day services teams are also liaising with the Department of education with a view to co-ordinating the information and supports provided to them. The Department of education has undertaken a transitions pilot with 41 special schools where information and support are provided to students to make informed decisions on post-school options and pathways. More generally, the HSE is supporting a day services deferrals process where individuals can avail of a deferral if they wish.

I welcome the working day services, especially the service for north Dublin. It is much needed but the area needs more investment. We need more respite centres and we need to give parents and children with disabilities support. On the Before We Die campaign, the parents are in absolute fear. We must focus on solutions. I welcome the Minister of State's comment to other Deputies on giving consideration to cross-departmental plans for disability housing and health to specifically address these cases. Many parents have emailed my office. Bernadette, Caroline, Lynn, Candy, Tony, Susan, J.J., Mary and Helen all represent parents who are worried about what will happen to their children after they pass. I welcome that the Minister of State is working on this. I know it is one of here main priorities, as she said to other Deputies. I would love for this to be fast-tracked so those parents could have reassurances.

I would too. I have met members of the Before We Die campaign twice, as has the Minister, Deputy Foley, and, I believe, many other members of the Government. I first met them at their request and the second time was at my request because I wanted to have a follow-up meeting with senior officials from the HSE to sit down together and work out a plan of action. I also acknowledge parents whose adult children attend the day services at Remember Us in Balbriggan, who I met on this issue as well. I met a young advocate yesterday on this and I will meet with two parents who are in a similar situation this afternoon. I am very glad we have moved to a situation where we are funding planned placements, rather than constantly responding to emerging crises. It is important we can provide that certainty for both the adults and the parents. This year, for the first time, we are moving towards a strategy of planned placements. The numbers are small but we expect to be able to fill them. We will be in a good position to then ask for the Department of public expenditure and reform to fill more.

I welcome the fact that the Minister of State has visited Remember Us. It is an exemplary example of what can be done. The increase in the budget for disability services was welcomed but fast-tracking personal assistance hours in these critical cases needs to be examined. Right now, these families feel like they are in the system. We need to move by making it planned for with centred supports. I welcome that the Minister of State has met parents at her request and at their request. I also acknowledge those who have contacted my office. Is there any timeline for delivering these kinds of co-ordinated supports for north Dublin and across Ireland? They are much needed. The data shows the northside has been neglected for too long.

I agree with the Deputy that we need timelines and we do have some timelines in place. This year's budget will fund the planned places that will happen this year. In terms of capacity building, we have targets and deadlines outlined in our disability capital plan, in which there was also an uplift this year. This year, we are hiring for six new additional roles within the HSE. Those postholders will liaise with, for example, local authorities, approved housing bodies and developers and work with them to ensure we are providing capacity at all levels, whether through private or public means. I was in County Donegal last week where I met the access officer in Letterkenny, who informed me that, as part of the Donegal development plan, 30% of all new homes being built by local authorities or AHBs in the county will have to be accessible. That is really good. We need more local authorities to follow that example. That would help us to plan for the future.

That concludes oral questions to the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.