More than 2,400 people with intellectual disabilities are without vital services such as full-time residential care or day care, according to new research.
The National Intellectual Disability Database for 2007, published by the Health Research Board (HRB), shows a significant level of need for a range of services despite funding increases over the last decade.
The database shows that the need for services such as residential care and respite care is continuing to rise as demand for places continues to exceed supply.
Campaign groups such as Inclusion Ireland say the Government's funding for disability services will be wholly inadequate in clearing waiting lists.
Fionnola Kelly, research officer at the HRB and co-author of the report, said the reason behind the rise in demand for services such as residential care was linked to two reasons: the baby boom of the 1960s and 1970s, which means a larger adult population is moving through the intellectual disability services, and people with intellectual disability are living longer.
Overall there were 25,613 people registered as having an intellectual disability. Almost three in every five (14,737) have a moderate, severe or profound intellectual disability. There are more males (56 per cent) than females (44 per cent) registered.
The report shows progress being made, especially in the area of day services. It found that 24,898 people with an intellectual disability were getting some form of service. This is the highest number of people receiving services since the database was established in 1995.
Inclusion Ireland, the representative group for people with intellectual disabilities, said it was alarmed at the numbers in need of services. Chief executive Deirdre Carroll said existing funding levels would be wholly inadequate in clearing waiting lists. She expressed concern that waiting lists for vital services were growing longer.
