Residential provision for adult persons with intellectual disabilities in Ireland. ,

Background The type of accommodation provided forpersons with an intellectual disability is a major indicatorof the social policy for this client group. This is likelyto vary within and across countries; hence the importanceof undertaking national and international comparisons.Estimations of future need are also required toassist service planning.Method A database of all persons in receipt of intellectualdisability services has been operating in the Republicof Ireland since 1995. In Northern Ireland, regionaldatabases were used to provide similar information.Results Around 10 000 people live in some form of residentialprovision: 56% in special settings, 35% in ordinaryhousing and 9% in hospitals. Most residents wereclassed as having ‘severe’ disabilities and were agedover 35 years. There were marked differences in theamount and type of provision provided in the two partsof the island. This was also mirrored in differencesacross health service areas within each country. Thedemand for future places was greater in Northern Ireland.Conclusions A planning target of 3.5 places per 1000adult population is proposed although substantialinvestments in services is required to achieve this. Longitudinalsurveys are an important way of monitoringthe impact of new policy initiatives.