I am delighted to have the opportunity to launch today's conference on Supported Living.
This conference provides an important opportunity to discuss and share insights on a new and important model of support for people with disabilities. The fact that this event is taking place today demonstrates just how far we have come as a society in our understanding of the needs and abilities of people with disabilities.
Whilst still very much an evolving model, Supported Living is all about providing people with disabilities with options. It is about maximising their potential in life and ensuring that they gain the best possible support in an environment that suits their individual needs.
I would like to thank all those who have worked so hard to organise this event, in particular, Councillor Maria Corrigan who invited me here to speak, and Fr. Fintan Brennan-Whitmore whom I know has been a driving force behind the development of Supported Living, both in Ireland and further afield. I was especially glad to hear that today's programme includes speakers from Northern Ireland. I hope that the conference will offer an opportunity for service providers throughout the country to come together to build links and share experiences on this new approach.
Of course, none of us would be here today were it not for the commitment of the St. John of God Hospitaller Services to delivering the highest quality care and assistance for people with disabilities. The Order now has 17 services in nine counties throughout Ireland. These support up to 3,000 children and adults with a range of needs including intellectual disabilities, mental health difficulties and problems associated with ageing. The Order have been leaders in the development of the Supported Living model and today’s conference provides an important opportunity to formally launch that model. I know that this event also marks the end of your first St John of God week, which provided an opportunity to celebrate hospitality, both locally and nationally, with the people with whom you work and support.
Supported Living
Last year, I had the honour of opening the St John of God’s facilities at the Exchange Hall in Tallaght. Whilst there, I was struck by how all service users were empowered to live an ordinary life, through the promotion of personal and spiritual development and inclusion in community living.
The importance of supporting people in an environment that is both comfortable and familiar to them cannot be overestimated. By offering sufficient support to enable people with disabilities to live in a way that suits them best, they gain the confidence to explore their many talents and abilities.
One of the greatest benefits of the supported living model is the flexibility with which it can be applied depending on the needs and preferences of the person with a disability. Accommodation can take the form of private rented accommodation, the family home, the person's own home, social housing or the Order's own housing. And I know that in developing this Supported Living model, the Order has also developed a comprehensive Framework of Service. This includes assessment, the development of support plans, the establishment of a circle of support and the development of support networks. Together, these elements help to ensure the continuing suitability and sustainability of the individual support package.
Partnership
Initiatives such as Supported Living are driven by partnerships - between organisations such as the Order of the St. John of God, the Health Service Executive, Local Authorities, families of people with disabilities and, of course, the individual recipient of support. With the move away from institutional care in more recent years, it has now become a real option for people with intellectual disabilities to remain with their families and in their own communities.
In this regard, there have been real improvements in the provision of services for people with disabilities in recent years. Since 1996, there has been a 44% increase in the number of people with intellectual disabilities living in community group homes; a 96% increase in the number of people in receipt of regular part-time care; and a 106% increase in the number of people being supported to live semi-independently.
In the five years from 2000 to 2004, funding in excess of €408 million has been provided under the Capital Assistance Scheme administered by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. This provides funding for special needs housing for people with disabilities, the elderly and the homeless and has enabled the provision of over 1,030 accommodation units specifically for people with disabilities.
In terms of day service provision, we have seen an increase of 391% since 1996 in the provision of supported employment, increases in high level support services and intensive day services and an increase in the number of young people attending mainstream pre-schools.
National Disability Strategy
The Government recognises however, that this progress is set against a background of historical deficits in the quality and level of service provision. Far too many people with disabilities remain excluded from full participation in society while many gaps remain in the availability of quality care.
The National Disability Strategy, which I launched last September, is designed to put a programme of action in place to address these problems. Work on the implementation of all the elements of the Strategy is continuing. The Disability Bill, which is a central element of the Strategy, is currently in the Seanad and regional consultations on the outline sectoral plans under the Bill have recently been completed. The Strategy also includes a Multi-Annual Funding Package for the period 2006-2009. The Package will ensure the delivery of:
· An extra 255 residential, 85 respite and 535 day places each year for persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism;
· An additional 80 residential places each year for persons with physical or sensory disabilities;
· 250,000 extra hours of home support and personal assistance each year to support independent living for persons with a disability; and
· 100 new places each year in community-based mental health facilities.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that the progress which has been made could not have been delivered in the absence of a strong partnership between Government, service providers and the disability sector generally. I am convinced that the framework put in place by the National Disability Strategy will allow for the further development of this partnership approach and deliver the best possible supports to people with disabilities. And, I am determined to ensure that the new resources and legislation are translated into on-the-ground service improvements.
Again, I would like to thank the St. John of God Hospitaller Services for all of your work on behalf of people with disabilities and especially for organising today’s conference.
I wish you every success in further developing your Supported Living model.
Thank You.
ENDS