From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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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:
“Today 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."
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.
ENDS
In 2023, €15.6m was spent on disability capital. The largest element of this spend was on the de-congregation programme where almost €6m was spent to bring forward housing within the community for people moving on from congregated settings. A further €5.2m was spent on the purchase, build and refurbishment of facilities for Children’s Services, Day Services and Respite facilities. €4m was spent on fire safety, minor capital and infrastructural upgrade to ensure services can operate safely and comply with regulations.
Following the March 2023 transfer of disability services from DoH to DECIDY, all capital funding provided by DCEDIY is ring-fenced for disability projects only, with the goal of expanding and transforming disability services to meet current and future need.
The HSE Capital Plan 2024 reflects the priorities outlined in the National Development Plan and those set out in the Action Plan for Disability Services, 2024-2026 (detailed below). DCEDIY is currently engaging with the HSE to progress the development of a disability specific, multi-annual Capital Strategy during 2024, which will identify the medium term infrastructure needs for disability services.
The aims of the current HSE Capital Plan with respect to disability services include;
Capital developments planned by the HSE for 2024 include projects that provide accommodation for disability network teams, development of Day Services facilities across the country, fitting out adult and children’s residential and respite houses and other residential projects.
The following is of list disabilities projects currently included with the Capital Plan. This will expand as the year continues.
| County | Locale | Project Description | Project Stage |
| Donegal | Cleary Centre, Donegal Town | New ID Adult Day Services facility | Appraisal |
| Sligo | Ballymote | Construction of a new building for use as a Day care services for Sligo/ Leitrim. This building is to relocate existing services being provided by IONA Transition Programme at leased building at Cregg House. | Appraisal |
| Leitrim | St Patrick’s Community Hospital, Carrick On Shannon | Newly built residence for adult (18-28 years) disability respite. Four bedrooms (three en- suite), two sitting rooms, kitchen & dining etc. and an adjoining single bedroom apartment. | Appraisal |
| Carlow | Kelvin Grove, Carlow | New build for Children's Therapy Services (Holy Angels), including preschool facility & therapy pool, for children 0-18 with complex needs in HSE owned site in Carlow. | Design Feasibility |
| Wicklow | St. Otteran’s | New build St Otteran's Children's Therapy facility to facilitate therapy services for children and young with complex needs (incl. Sacred Heart Centre). | Detailed Design |
| Dublin | CRC, Clondalkin | Construction of a new purpose-built facility to replace existing accommodation and provide clinical disability services to children and adults, including Assistive Technology, Specialist Seating and other specialist services. | Appraisal |
| Various | Various | Series of sites under consideration for Disability Day Services within CHO 7. | Appraisal |
| Portlaoise | Summerhill | New replacement (purchase) Community Residence for 4 ID clients | Appraisal |
| Dublin | Gracepark Road, Drumcondra, Dublin City | Childvision Development of a National Campus of Excellence for the Visually Impaired | Design Feasibility |
| Dublin | CRC, Clontarf | Redevelopment of existing CRC Facilities, Roof & Fire Safety Works | Design Feasibility |
| Dublin | Rathbeale Road, Swords | Intensive Support Disability Day Service unit - to provide day services to children entering adult services through delivering high quality, person centered day services which promote the active citizenship of all service users. | Detailed Design |
| Dublin | Cabra | Accommodation to provide child respite comprising bedrooms, living room & recreational spaces, and a separate studio style apartment with separate entrance. | Appraisal |
| Dublin | Site to be confirmed within Dublin North Inner City | Intensive Support Disability Day Service unit to provide day services to children entering adult services. | Appraisal |
| Dublin | Blanchardstown (site to be confirmed) | New building to accommodate increased and expanding size of team. | Appraisal |
| Dublin | Kilbarrack (site to be confirmed) | New location required to consolidate CDNT currently housed in separate locations. | Appraisal |
| Dublin | Cabra/ Grangegorman, Avista Campus | Renovation and extension to existing facility on Avista Campus to accommodate the existing team. | Appraisal |
| Dublin | St. Michael's House, Raheny | Proposed refurbishment and extension of existing building at St. Michael's House to house an additional four service users. The extended building will also allow for the relocation of Grangemore Local Centre into the same building and facilitate an increase in their users | Appraisal |
| Dublin | Villa Park Gardens, Navan Road, Dublin 7 | Development to accommodate Intensive Support Day Service (360sqm) for teaching teenagers and young adults how to carry out daily tasks and preparing them to enter adult life in their homes and community. | Appraisal |
| Dublin | Balbriggan (Location to be confirmed) | New build location for Children's Disability Network Team (CDNT) to replace fragmented service and comply with a joined up and person centered Model of Service. | Appraisal |
| Various | Various | Series of sites under consideration for Disability Day Services within CHO 9. | Appraisal |
| Dublin | Ashgrove House, Navan Road | Refurbishment of existing building to include replacement of the Mechanical & Electrical Services (incl. ICT & Active Fire safety systems), upgrade of the Building Fabric and heat/energy systems. | Appraisal |
| National | Various | Capital Allocation to allow for the upgrade of residential facilities for people with disabilities to meet HIQA standards i.e. De-congregation Programme | Various |
| National | National | National allocation for Fire Safety in community residential dwellings (Disability) | Appraisal |
| Mayo | Ballina | Purchase and refurb of property for Disability Respite services | Tender |
Additionally, the plan includes seven Disability related Community Care projects.
| Health Regions | Locations | Project Description | Stage |
| CHO 1 | Cavan Lower and Sliabh Sneacht, Co. Donegal; Glencurran, Co. Cavan; Abbeyville and Hadanem House, Co. Sligo | Six units at varying stages of purchase/ refurbishment to meet housing requirements for individuals transitioning from congregated settings | Phased Delivery 2024 |
| CHO 3 | Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick; and Dunkerrin, Co. Offaly | Four units at varying stages of purchase / new build / refurbishment to meet housing requirements for individuals transitioning from congregated settings | Phased Delivery 2024 |
| CHO 4 | Evergreen House, Cork City; Ardmoneel and Coolclogher Drive, Co. Kerry | Three units at varying stages of purchase/ refurbishment to meet housing requirements for individuals transitioning from congregated settings | Phased Delivery 2024 |
| CHO 5 | Avalon and Ballycogley House, Co. Wexford | Two units at varying stages of purchase / refurbishment to meet housing requirements for individuals transitioning from congregated settings | Phased Delivery 2024 |
| CHO 6 | Bakers Corner, Pottery Road, Dun Laogharie | Refurbishment and upgrade of a unit (HSE property) at Bakers Corner to create a Disabilities Respite Unit. | Q2 2024 Estimated Delivery |
| CHO 6 | Hollybrook Park, Co. Wicklow | One unit of purchase/ refurbishment to meet housing requirements for individuals transitioning from congregated settings | Phased Delivery 2024 |
| CHO 7 | Abbey Park, Co. Kildare | One unit of purchase/ refurbishment to meet housing requirements for individuals transitioning from congregated settings | Phased Delivery 2024 |
Developed by an interdepartmental Working Group, the Action Plan for Disability Services 2024 – 2026 was launched in December 2023 and represents the first phase of implementation of the Disability Capacity Review to 2032.
The headline service improvements planned for 2024-26 which the announced expenditure addresses are as follows: