Ms Breda Crehan-Roche:

The Minister of State alluded to how respite can be residential, home sharing, day breaks, contract families or summer camps. There is a broad church of respite. We know that respite is very important because it enables families to continue caring for their loved ones. It helps them if they know that they can get regular breaks.

Regarding emergency respite, the Senator cited a sad example and I was sorry to hear of what happened. Respite beds provide people with breaks for a number of nights or weekends or with planned respite. However, this is usually trumped if emergency respite is required. When I was CEO of Ability West, it was sometimes the case that a person who was in on planned respite had to give up his or her place to assist an emergency placement if a family was in crisis, allowing the family to get that valuable respite service.

Sometimes families are unable to keep going. We must recognise that Covid-19 has had a major impact. There was an impact when respite was not able to run to its capacity. Unfortunately, some families must make a tough choice because they cannot take their loved ones home. That impacts on respite. We work with the HSE nationally and make funding bids in respect of emergencies. Where we can, we will provide additional supports. Sometimes, it is in the non-statutory sector. It could be in section 38 or section 39 organisations, the private sector or HSE services. The list of respite services is valuable. It is important that people have equity and fairness and get the supports they require to enable them to continue caring for their loved ones. Respite is a broad church. In respite in the home, people go in and give families a break. There is home sharing where families are trained to take someone as a guest into their homes. We have contract families where families are contracted to take in emergencies. There is a wide range of respite. I am very familiar with respite in Community Healthcare West, which covers counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.

I hope I have helped the Senator.