Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A Programme for a Partnership Government affirms that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with disabilities. I have the social care and disability service plan for 2017 in front of me and while I do not doubt the commitment of the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Finian McGrath, who has just left the Chamber, I wish to raise an issue regarding Sligo. A purpose built HSE respite facility was built four years ago at a cost of €1.2 million. There is no question that there is a big demand for respite services, particularly for emergency respite for parents following a death in a family, for example. It is a busy service but I was told recently by parents that the service is being reduced to six nights per month, which is a significant reduction. Effectively the facility will be closed for 24 nights per month, which is regrettable and wrong.

I contacted HSE management and was told that funding has been applied for and a response is awaited.

See this speech in context