An additional €31m in funding for disability services has been approved by the Government.
Minister Finian McGrath, a member of the Independent Alliance, insisted that this was new money he had secured from the health budget as part of the negotiations that led to the Alliance joining the Government.
The spending will cover the provision of emergency residential places for the disabled, and bringing existing facilities into compliance with residential standards.
In a statement, Minister McGrath said that €28m of the funding will be used for disability services to address existing financial pressures arising from on-going service improvement.
€3 million has been set aside for new initiatives this year including a provision for school leavers with disabilities.
Mr McGrath said a priority for him would be the situation of adults with disabilities whose parents were elderly or deceased who faced particular problems.
Minister Finian McGrath says govt has approved 31m euro in additional funding for disability services. #rtenews pic.twitter.com/e1CUcGqLsU
— Martina Fitzgerald (@MartinaFitzg) June 9, 2016
He said the government wanted to empower those with disabilities to live independent lives and to enhance their ability to access the services they chose for themselves.
The minister said: "The Government is committed to providing improved services and supports for people with disabilities.
"Service providers also need to be able to respond effectively and sensitively when people experience crisis points in their lives and require immediate support. This much needed additional funding will enhance the HSE’s ability to provide supports in these circumstances."
Disability campaigner and activist Martin Naughton has welcomed the extra funding, but said the mental health sector is going from one crisis to another.
Mr Naughton told RTÉ's Six One News that it is his understanding that the new money will be allocated to supporting residential centres.
However, he argued that patients in institutional settings do not need to be there.
Mr Naughton said people would like to live in their own communities and the Government needs to support them through individual direct payments.
While he paid tribute to Mr McGrath, he reiterated that "the solution is not institution".
