Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am disappointed with the Minister of State's response as it is deeds and actions that are needed, not words. I could go on for the next hour about cases that have come to the attention of my office. The Minister of State has been written to about many of those cases. For example, two social workers left Drumcar last December and since then no social worker had been there at all until last week. Just one social worker was appointed to facilitate the needs of these families. If the Minister of State cannot give a commitment to give the money needed to solve the problem in Louth immediately, I want to make a suggestion to him and I ask him to consider it. In the short term, could he not allow retired accredited intellectual disability nurses provide respite for these families in their homes? While it is not an ideal solution, that would alleviate the distress and worry of these families. Most important, I call on the Minister of State to get the funding to which I have referred to provide the facility that has been identified. Let us get action on this. Words are no good.

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