Transforming Specialist Disability Services following the Transfer of Functions to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality

The transfer of responsibility for specialist community-based disability services to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) from the Department of Health (DoH) took place on 1 March 2023. The legislation providing for the transfer included a clause on conducting a review of progress in services and cooperation three years on.

The review provided an opportunity to examine progress achieved since 2023 and to identify lessons learned and challenges that remain for the reform and expansion of disability services in the context of the wider HSE reform programme.

The Report sets out a number of recommendations to support the Department’s strategic ambition to drive progressive transformation of services and improve outcomes for people with disabilities and their families.