To ask the Minister of Health to detail the scope of the planned review of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1978.

I am committed to reviewing the Chronically Sick & Disabled Persons (NI) Act 1978 and any related legislation during the first year of implementing the three-year Service Delivery Plan (SDP) for the Learning Disability Service Model (LDSM), to determine whether there is a need for legislative change, which better reflects changing demographics and modern models of support for people with lifelong complex needs.

However, while I am fully supportive of the case for exploring legislative change, I have previously indicated the need to be mindful of the practical challenges of progressing new primary legislation within the remainder of the current mandate.

My Department recently completed a 14-week public consultation on the Learning Disability Service Model (LDSM) and the Service Delivery Plan (SDP) which closed on 25 November 2025. The LDSM sets out clear ambitions for young people with a learning disability, which includes individuals with complex needs, to receive lifelong, co-ordinated support, tailored to their needs and enabling choice and control.

My officials are undertaking an analysis of the responses to the consultation which will inform any required amendments to the LDSM and SDP, including the commitment to carry out a legislative review.

In terms of timescale, officials are aiming to publish an initial summary report of the consultation in January 2026, with the full analysis report to follow in March 2026. The findings from this will be used to further refine and finalise the LDSM and SDP by Spring 2026. Once finalised, they will inform decisions on the future reconfiguration of services for people with a learning disability and any additional investment required. Delivery of the ambitions outlined within the Model will be subject to funding made available to my Department.

As part of developing the Learning Disability Service Model, my officials undertook a comparative analysis of policy and frameworks across England, Scotland and Wales. This work concluded that, if fully implemented, the LDSM, the SDP and associated transition reforms have the potential to meet and, in some respects, exceed the frameworks published in other jurisdictions particularly where legislation has not been matched by service capacity or effective delivery arrangements.

However, until the LDSM and SDP are finalised, it is not possible to provide an exact timeframe for this review or to assess whether legislative reform will be required. I am clear however that any legislative reform must be properly sequenced, evidence-based, and aligned with the system reform already underway. In addition, as the legislation relates to a number of Health and Social Care programmes of care and will also require cross Governmental involvement (spanning Health, Education, Economy, and Communities), a working group will need to be established which will determine the terms of reference, scope and timeframe for the review.

It is my clear position that any future legislative reform must underpin and support implementation of the LDSM and SDP. The work currently being undertaken by my officials to analyse consultation feedback, pilot learning, service demand data and capacity implications is required to inform the scope of the legislative review.