State ‘failing to deinstitutionalise’ those living in congregated settings

Inclusion Ireland, the national voluntary organisation which promotes the rights of people with an intellectual disability, is accusing the State of failing in its efforts to “deinstitutionalise” people by removing them from congregated settings.

In a strongly-worded critique of what it said is the State’s “failure to act” on ending the practice of people living in congregated settings of 10 or more people, Inclusion Ireland also said the Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission (IHREC) should look into why the move from institutions has taken so long.

It also said IHREC should see if people with disabilities have had their rights abused in institutions and that the Government should set up a group to look at the money that has already been spent on closing institutions, as well as establishing a plan to close institutions and support people to move to the community.