Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is correct that respite is probably the issue that is most frequently raised with me. Obviously, residential care is also raised but respite is very close to that. In 2025, 164,000 additional nights were being provided for and 65,000 day respite opportunities. That was an 82% increase since 2019. In budget 2026, an additional 25,000 day respite opportunities will be provided for and 10,000 respite nights. I also know that for a lot of people, it is about the nights as much as it is about the days. It is important to note that we have the opportunity for day respite too but the crucial thing for a lot of people is the night respite opportunity.

I have visited a number of different providers, most recently in Ennis. Based on the funding we have now, I was able to announce that we would increase overnight respite opportunities from 700 to 1,400. I cannot tell the Deputy the difference this has made to the parents I met. It was significant and I would like to think we will be in a position across the country to do that more and more. Again, we will not be able to do this by magic but when people see that we are making these incremental changes in various places, it will allow us, almost like a domino effect, to do more in other spaces as well.

I also want to acknowledge the home-sharing opportunity that has been provided for. This is where people genuinely open up their homes and provide respite for an individual who needs it. That is another element. There are so many different aspects to respite now, with day and night respite and also shared respite. The Government is absolutely committed to this. We have funding of €25 million in 2026 to deliver more. I hope we will build on that over the coming years.