Mixed response from voluntary sector

Reaction: social services:There was a mixed reaction from lobby groups and non-governmental organisations to the social inclusion elements of the plan.

Aspects of it were praised by the Rehab Group. However Aontas, the national association of adult education, said it was disappointed that the plan did not contain more good news for the sector.

It said it had asked the Government to prioritise investment in learner supports, such as the abolition of part-time fees for adult learners, but this had not happened.

The Rehab Group welcomed the €19.2 billion investment in disability services and the €5 billion in funding allocated to hospital infrastructure.

However, it sought a commitment that this would include money for a new rehabilitation hospital.

Rehab Group chief executive Angela Kerins said there was a shortage of in-patient and community-based rehabilitation services, with the result that people were not receiving the timely intervention they needed to ensure the best possible recovery following injury or illness.

"In addition, acute hospital beds are being inappropriately used for patients who really require dedicated rehabilitation programmes," she said.

Ms Kerins said the plan provided an opportunity to proceed with the development of comprehensive rehabilitation services across the State, which she hoped would not be lost.

"At present, individuals with severe spinal, brain and related injury or disease, who require specialist in-patient rehabilitation, must await admission to the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. The NRH, as the only national centre for rehabilitation, has been experiencing severe pressure on its services and there is a long waiting list for admission.

"A second rehabilitation hospital would benefit thousands of people annually and should be a priority for the HSE and for Government," she said.

Focus Ireland welcomed the launch of the plan but stressed that joined-up action to deliver housing and social supports were essential to meet the needs of thousands who were homeless or at risk of losing their home.

Chief executive of Focus Ireland Declan Jones said delivering on the commitments in the plan would require "a substantial increase in annual social housing output and substantial development of appropriate social and personal supports for those who have difficulty in creating and sustaining homes".

"In addition to funding, we need effective inter-departmental and inter-agency working to make this happen in a way which will make a real difference to people lives," he said.

The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland praised commitment in the plan for the integration of immigrants and the allocation of €36 million in this area.