The National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers has expressed "significant concern" around the "limited funding" made available to provide new service and support developments for people with disabilities.
It welcomed the Cost of Disability payment announced in today's Budget, however, the organisation said that funding was required for new services which are urgently needed.
More than 1,500 people with intellectual disabilities live with a primary carer over the age of 70.
More than 485 of those carers are over the age of 80.
There are more than 2,400 people with disabilities living in congregated settings, including nursing homes.
In order to deal with these issues, the Government announced last year that it would create an Action Plan, laying out priority areas over the next three years, but that plan has not been published.
It stemmed from the Disability Capacity Review, which outlined investments needed in residential, day supports, respite, PA and home help and community services.
The review identified that between €80 million (to meet demographic need) and €350 million (to meet demographic and unmet need) of new supports required from 2022 onwards to 2032, with that figure rising in subsequent years.
In his speech today, Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath said there would be "substantial investment in our health and social care services, including: Funding of €138 million, including €29 million for new developments to strengthen disability services, though the provision of additional respite, day service and residential places in line with Disability Capacity Review".
The National Federation of Voluntary Bodies has said that the figure of €29 million had fallen "far short" of the levels of investment needed as outlined in the Disability Capacity Review.
Due to increased costs of electricity, fuel and food; frontline essential disability services costs need to be addressed as a matter of urgency, according to the National Federation. It said the announcement of a substantial funding package addressing inflationary measures for the voluntary sector is very welcome.
It concluded that the measures quantified in the Disability Capacity Review were required for people with intellectual disability to access their rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to live and be included as equal citizens in the community, with supports where needed.
"We are calling on Government to take these responsibilities very seriously and to bring forward an action plan that sets out clearly how these targets are to be achieved, for citizens with disabilities and their families."
