Praxis Care sets out strategy to 2030
Praxis Care has unveiled its strategy to 2030 for the Republic of Ireland, outlining a bold roadmap to expand residential, respite, and day services, invest in its workforce, and elevate standards in response to rising demand for disability support. As a registered Section 39 charity, Praxis Care is dedicated to providing high-quality, person-centred care, ensuring that individuals and families can access the support they need to live with dignity, independence, and opportunity.
-A critical moment
Latest data from the National Ability Supports System (NASS) shows a significant rise in the number of people availing of disability services in Ireland. Between 2023 and 2024, registrations jumped by over 4,600, a 13 per cent year-on-year increase.
Prevalence estimates suggest autism among children has risen from around 1.5 per cent to as high as 5 per cent in less than a decade, placing additional pressure on specialist education, therapy, and support services.
This growth places pressure on services that are already stretched. Current estimates indicate that over 3,200 additional people will require day services in 2025, while at least 2,053 new residential placements and 1,300 overnight respite beds will be needed. Forecasts from the Department of Health’s Disability Capacity Review to 2032 highlight an ageing population as a key driver of increased need, particularly adults aged 55 and over, and warn of a “substantial backlog of need” in disability services.
Praxis Care is responding at scale. With decades of experience supporting adults and children with disabilities, the organisation is uniquely positioned to expand essential services while aligning with government priorities and sector planning.
Transformation
Praxis Care’s strategy to 2030 is anchored in a clear vision: a society where every person supported can live independently, with dignity, purpose, and meaningful community connections.
“Our mission is simple,” says Carol Breen, Chief Executive of Praxis Care. “We provide personalised, compassionate support that empowers people to live fulfilling and meaningful lives. This strategy is our blueprint for delivering that mission at scale, expanding services, raising standards, and creating a sustainable model of care for the decade ahead.”
Praxis Care’s core values of integrity, respect, ambition, care, and innovation guide every decision, ensuring growth and expansion remain person-centred.
Strategic priorities
Ireland’s rising demand for care services requires bold, targeted action. Praxis Care’s strategy to 2030 is built around three strategic priorities; each designed to tackle these challenges head-on: empowering people, elevating standards, and enhancing efficiency. Together, they provide a clear roadmap for delivering high-quality, person-centred care, strengthening the workforce, and ensuring sustainable, long-term impact across the region.
Empowering people
People lie at the centre of Praxis Care’s strategy. Services will be co-produced with individuals and families, tailored to meet their unique needs. Workforce investment is central: enhanced learning and development, career pathways, and staff wellbeing programmes will equip staff to deliver the high-quality care the Republic of Ireland urgently needs.
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Impact you can see
Behind every number is a real story: Declan, a father of a 15-year-old son with autism and complex care needs, shares how Praxis Care’s respite services have been life-changing for his family. Through personalised care, Alex has flourished in a structured and understanding environment, and Declan and his wife have found much-needed time to relax and recharge. Declan says: “Praxis Care for me has been life-saving, because I did not realise how much damage I was doing to my mental health. It has given us a chance to breathe, to take care of ourselves, and to reconnect as a couple. We never thought we could take a proper break from caregiving, but now we can.” Read Declan’s full story: |
Elevating standards
Quality and accountability are non-negotiable. Praxis Care is embedding a culture of continuous improvement, strengthening governance, and modernising care environments. Success will be measured not just by outputs, but by meaningful improvements in independence, wellbeing, and inclusion for the people supported.
Enhancing efficiency
Sustainability underpins the strategy. Digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, and research-informed practice will enable services to be more responsive and efficient. Financial prudence ensures long-term resilience, while innovations in care delivery will influence sector-wide improvement.
Turning vision into reality
Praxis Care is already putting the strategy into action. This year, it opened new services across Navan, Dunboyne, Meath, and Donegal providing residential and day support for people with disabilities. Further expansions are planned for Louth, Cork, Mayo, and Meath.
These facilities exemplify the strategy in practice: personalised, community-based, and built around individual needs.
Further developments planned in 2026 will expand access to residential, supported living, and community-based services, aligned with government commissioning priorities and evidence of rising need.
Driving this delivery is Praxis Care’s new senior leadership team, featuring strong female representation. Their expertise, experience, and collaborative leadership signal a fresh chapter in the organisation’s growth and reflect the strategy’s values of innovation and inclusion.
Collaboration
Praxis Care recognises that no single organisation can meet these challenges alone. Success requires partnership with government, the Health Service Executive, housing bodies, and the voluntary sector.
Breen says: “The challenges are significant, but so is the opportunity. With the right investment and collaboration, we can support a social care system that delivers dignity, independence, and opportunity for every individual.”
Towards 2030
Ireland’s disability services are at a critical juncture. Rising demand, demographic change, and long-standing service backlogs require immediate, coordinated action. Praxis Care’s strategy to 2030 offers a clear, values-driven roadmap: scaling services, uplifting standards, and embedding efficiency and innovation.
With a committed workforce, an empowered leadership team, and a plan rooted in evidence and impact, Praxis Care is ready to lead the way; ensuring that by 2030, people across Ireland can live empowered, independent, and fulfilling lives.
Explore the strategy: www.praxiscare.org/strategy-to-2030
W: www.praxiscare.org
E: communications@praxiscare.org.uk
