society
Health
Ministers announce expansion of residential care for disabled people
Government officials have confirmed the creation of over 1,000 specialist residential places since 2020 to support individuals with disabilities. New collaborative housing targets are now being established with local authorities to ensure long-term community integration and stability.
Source:
Gov.ie / MerrionStreet
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⏱️ 2 min read
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley and Minister of State Emer Higgins have confirmed significant progress in the provision of residential services for people with disabilities. Since 2020, the HSE has successfully established over 1,000 specialist placements, bringing the national total to nearly 9,000. Under the 2026 National Service Plan, an additional €65 million has been allocated to provide 152 new placements, specifically targeting both planned transitions and urgent priority needs.
In a strategic shift to improve future provision, the Department is working alongside Minister for Housing James Browne to integrate disability-specific requirements into local government planning. For the first time, every local authority will be mandated to set clear targets for social housing delivery for disabled citizens within their upcoming Housing Delivery Action Plans for 2027-2030. This initiative aims to move away from reactive, crisis-led placements toward a more proactive, planned approach, ensuring that individuals can live independently within their own communities.
Minister Higgins acknowledged the ongoing frustrations faced by families, noting that the Government is prioritising earlier identification of needs to prevent crisis situations. Alongside the current €2.2 billion investment in residential services, the Department is finalising a new procurement framework for service providers and conducting research to shape a comprehensive policy for specialist residential care. Further details regarding these services and the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People are available on the official government website.
In a strategic shift to improve future provision, the Department is working alongside Minister for Housing James Browne to integrate disability-specific requirements into local government planning. For the first time, every local authority will be mandated to set clear targets for social housing delivery for disabled citizens within their upcoming Housing Delivery Action Plans for 2027-2030. This initiative aims to move away from reactive, crisis-led placements toward a more proactive, planned approach, ensuring that individuals can live independently within their own communities.
Minister Higgins acknowledged the ongoing frustrations faced by families, noting that the Government is prioritising earlier identification of needs to prevent crisis situations. Alongside the current €2.2 billion investment in residential services, the Department is finalising a new procurement framework for service providers and conducting research to shape a comprehensive policy for specialist residential care. Further details regarding these services and the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People are available on the official government website.