Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On the respite care issue, it is part of the plan for respite care services that children will stay with families. I am well aware of the issue because St. Michael's House and the COPE Foundation in Cork are involved, as the Senator said. It is part of Jigsaw. We have 8,600 people in residential care and in the region of 27,000 in day services. Within respite care services, this year there will be 180,500 overnight stays and 3.08 million hours in home support services. These are part of mainstream respite care mservices. During the summer we opened our 12th respite care house. Although it did not get a mention anywhere, 12 new respite care houses have been opened. The final one was opened in the middle of the summer. I thank the HSE for being on target.

As part of the respite care service, we have families coming forward to volunteer to assist other families, particularly those with high dependency young children and young adults with disabilities. To the question of whether I believe in it, the answer is "Yes". To the question of whether I support it and would encourage its expansion, the answer is absolutely "Yes".

There is a group in society which we know as carers.

There is a group of families who do very valuable work by providing services for young children and adults with disabilities, which we must support and I will support them. During the year we have moved 160 people out of residential homes, and away from an institutionalised setting, but put them into community settings. Part of the process involves those who have no extended family, and people are often left in institutions in cases where their family members have died or it is very difficult for the family. We need to provide more support.

Senator Burke asked about the families. There are approximately 800 families involved, which should be supported, and assistance expanded.