RADICAL APPROACH NEEDED TO TACKLE WAITING LISTS FOR RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT TO PEOPLE WITH AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY – INCLUSION IRELAND

Inclusion Ireland is today asking why after nearly ten years of investment, figures for people requiring a residential service remain high. The National Intellectual Disability Database 2007, which is published today, shows the highest ever numbers of people registered as requiring a residential service over the next 5 years. 2,181 people with an intellectual disability are on a waiting list for a residential service, an increase of 63 people from this time last year. Inclusion Ireland CEO Deirdre Carroll says these figures “provide a worrying back drop against the multi-annual funding up to 2009 announced at the launch of the National Disability Strategy, which will be wholly inadequate in clearing these waiting lists”.

 “It is also alarming that 134 more people than last year are now on a waiting list for a respite service, bringing the total to 2,088. Many of these people are currently at home with elderly parents, without any service.”       

Inclusion Ireland’s submission for Budget 2008 calls on the Department of Health & Children to undertake a review of current funding arrangements for services for people with an intellectual disability and to promote innovative measures for providing supported living and respite services:

“The current system of distinct funding streams for residential, day and respite services is costly, inflexible and does not encourage independent lives. An immediate review of the current arrangements for the funding of services for people with an intellectual disability is required to ensure funding is being spent appropriately to meet the needs of those who most urgently require services and supports. Funding must be linked with the provision of specific services to specific individuals with assurance that the service provided will meet their identified needs and not just reflect what is already being provided or what is available within services.”

ENDS

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