Ministers Norma Foley and Hildegarde Naughton have announced a €27 million investment in disability services for 2025, a €4 million increase from last year, aimed at improving infrastructure for children’s services, day services, respite care, and residential facilities. This funding supports the government’s broader goals outlined in the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024–2026 and responds to recommendations from the Disability Capacity Review.
Key Focus Areas:
- Housing and Residential Services: The investment will support the creation of housing options for individuals transitioning to independent living and further de-congregation of institutional care.
- Specialized Facilities: Planned projects include the construction and renovation of facilities such as the Adelphi House in Dublin, which will provide respite beds and day services for adults with autism.
- Children’s Therapy Services: New builds, including St. Otteran’s in Waterford and a Children’s Therapy Services facility in Carlow, will provide critical therapy spaces for children with complex needs.
The announcement also marks the development of the first-ever Strategic Infrastructural Plan for Disabilities, designed to guide the future development of disability services and inform the National Development Plan review. Minister Norma Foley emphasized the role of the plan in addressing long-term needs, saying, “The €27 million will fund critical infrastructure to ensure individuals with disabilities can live more independently and access the services they need.”
Minister Hildegarde Naughton highlighted the importance of improving the physical environment for people with disabilities, noting her visits to services nationwide and the impact such improvements can have on service users’ well-being.
This funding is part of a continued effort to enhance Ireland’s disability services, with the government already investing in residential and day services, respite care, and specialized facilities since the transfer of disability services from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth in 2023.
For 2025, the Health Service Executive (HSE) will continue its work on transitioning people from large institutional settings to community-based care, in line with the “Time to Move On” policy. The HSE’s ongoing development of capital projects will ensure that these services meet the growing needs of people with disabilities, aiming to provide 500 new residential care places by 2030 and increase the availability of day services and respite care to support more individuals.
This €27 million allocation is just one step in a wider commitment to support the infrastructure needs of the disability services sector, helping to make services more person-centered and aligned with international standards like the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Funding Breakdown:
The following projects are set to benefit from the 2025 funding:
- Adelphi House, Dublin: Refurbishment to provide respite and day services for adults with autism.
- Rath, Co. Louth: Specialist residential unit to de-congregate St. Mary’s Campus.
- St. Otteran’s, Waterford: New build children’s therapy facility.
- Carlow: New children’s therapy services, including a therapy pool.
This funding comes as part of an overall €3.2 billion disability services budget, with capital funding aimed at expanding and improving services for individuals with disabilities across Ireland. The HSE Capital Plan 2025 will continue to focus on creating and upgrading facilities that provide housing, therapy, and support services, alongside increasing the capacity for independent living.
Conclusion: The €27 million funding increase signals a strong commitment by the Irish government to expand disability services, ensuring that individuals with disabilities receive the care and support they need to live independently and with dignity.
Minister Norma Foley Picture by Gareth Chaney Collins Dublin
