Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 30 May 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism

Autism Policy: Discussion (Resumed)

Ms Clare Duffy:

The Deputy asked a question about inadequately staffed respite. It goes back to Deputy Tully’s point on having less respite now than we had before. There is evidence of respite not having come back after Covid - it just never came back for many families. We see it ourselves in the delivery of home care. Staff is the issue across everything right now. Certainly, it has to be said that staff in respite is probably the single biggest challenge now, as it is in home care, therapies and across the board.