Disabilities services criticised

More than 2,300 people with intellectual disabilities in need of support are either without any service or a major element of a service, new figures show.

While there has been substantial investment and progress across a range of areas, the new National Intellectual Disability Database report for 2006 shows major areas of need persist, especially in the area of residential care.

Some 2,118 people are in need of residential care, the highest number since the database was established a decade ago. Demographic factors, such as a growth in the number of adults in need of residential care as a result of the baby boom of the 1960s and 1970s, appear to be the main cause of increase, according to experts at the Health Research Board (HRB).

The authors of the report say services will continue to be unable to meet the full residential needs of people with intellectual disabilities if demand continues to grow at current rates.

Overall, the database shows substantial progress in the delivery of services to the 25,518 people registered on the database. The main areas of progress include:

The number of intellectually disabled inappropriately placed in psychiatric hospitals has fallen to 48 from 348 last year

A record number of people - 24,386 - are in receipt of at least one day programme

The number of people with intellectual disabilities living full-time in group homes in local communities has more than doubled in 10 years

Increased provision in almost all areas of adult day services.

However, there are still major areas of need which persist despite increased investment in the disability sector.

A total of 2,371 people who require services but are either without any, or are without a major element of a service. This is a 4 per cent increase over last year. In addition, a further 11,000 people who are receiving services will require alternative or enhanced services within the next five years.

Minister of State at the Department of Health Tim O'Malley welcomed the report yesterday and reiterated the Government's commitment to spending €900 million between 2006 and 2009 in helping to meet the needs of disabled people.

However, Inclusion Ireland, the national association for people with intellectual disabilities, yesterday called for an audit of the figures.