<p>It has been argued that Ireland is atypical among its European neighbours in skewing healthcare provision towards the hospital sector and by denial of universal free access to primary health care at the point of use (Wren 2003). This paper sets out to review access to primary and secondary health services for the 27,760 people with an intellectual disability living in Ireland (Mulvany 2001). They live in a variety of settings, including psychiatric hospitals, campus-based, residential and family homes (Connelly 2002).</p>