- Children’s services, Day services and Respite facilities to receive investment
- First ever Disability Strategic Capital Plan to be developed
Minister of State for Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte, has announced €23m in capital funding has been allocated for disability capital projects in 2024.
Minister Rabbitte has also asked the HSE to develop the first ever disability specific multi-annual Capital Strategy.
The allocation follows the development of the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-2026, which was launched in December 2023.
The Action Plan represents the first phase of implementation of the recommendations of the Disability Capacity Review and contains ambitious targets for service expansion, as well as a route for making services more person-centred, in the spirit of the UNCRPD.
In support of the Action Plan’s aims, the Minister has also asked the HSE to develop a disability specific multi-annual Capital Strategy this year.
The Strategy will be informed by sectoral consultation and will identify the short and medium term infrastructure needs for disability services.
Dedicated resources, including a new Assistant National Director for Disability Capital in the HSE, are being put in place and will drive the development of this Strategy and will co-ordinate and deliver on this expanded programme of works.
Minister Rabbitte said:
This is an important milestone in the Government’s commitment to both increase investment in disability capital projects and also the development of the HSE’s first ever disability specific Capital Strategy.
The significant allocation of €23m includes the provision of housing for people moving on from congregated settings, the build and refurbishment of facilities for Children’s Services, Day Services and Respite facilities.
Meanwhile, this disability capital strategy will be a key enabler for us to drive growth in investment in disability services over the coming years and to ensure the delivery of projects that are delivered on time, on budget and ensure that value for money is being achieved.
I’m also keen to see the strategy map out clear pathways in how we support the development of capital projects for Section 39 providers.
- Children’s services, Day services and Respite facilities to receive investment
- First ever Disability Strategic Capital Plan to be developed
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has set ambitious targets for the expansion of residential services, day services, children’s services and respite facilities under the Action Plan, which require appropriate strategic capital investment to provide the necessary infrastructure.
Some of the projects being supported to progress in 2024 include:
| County | Facility | Brief Description | Stage |
| Carlow | Holy Angels, Kelvin Grove, Carlow | New build for Children’s Therapy Services, including preschool facility & therapy pool. | Design Feasibility/ Design |
| Donegal | Cleary Centre, Donegal Town | New ID Adult Day Services facility | Detailed Design |
| Dublin | Adelphi House, North Circular Road. | Accommodation for 4 Respite Beds and a separate Day Services Hub for adults with autism. | Construction |
| Dublin | Cabra | Accommodation to provide 4 bed child respite accommodation comprising. | Appraisal |
| Dublin | Balbriggan | New build location for Children’s Disability Network Team. | Appraisal |
| Dublin | Kilbarrack | New location required to consolidate CDNT. | Appraisal |
| Dublin | St Michael’s House, Raheny | Proposed refurbishment and extension of existing building at St. Michael’s House, Raheny Adult Day Centre. | Detailed Design, Construction |
| Laois | Portlaoise | Community Residence for 4 ID clients. | Appraisal/ Detailed Design |
| Leitrim | Carrick-on-Shannon | New build residence for adult disability respite.. | Detailed Design/ Construction |
| Mayo | Ballina | Purchase and refurb of property for Disability Respite services. | Tender |
| Waterford | St Otteran’s | New build St Otteran’s Childrens Therapy facility to facilitate therapy services for children and young with complex needs. | Detailed Design/ Tender |
The De-congregation Programme is also set to progress; the movement of people from congregated settings to smaller (1-4 person) residential homes in the community.
To date, 130 properties have been provided to this end, with a further 29 in the pipeline to further extend community-based living arrangements to disabled people and help Ireland achieve its obligations under the UNCRPD.
This is in addition to a mainstream first approach with HSE and Disability Specialist Voluntary Agencies engaging with Local Authorities to access housing across communities where possible.
That is in line with the Housing Strategy for Disabled Persons, and in addition to the use of the Capital Assistance Scheme and the Capital Advance Leasing Facility.
