Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this important issue. It is at least the third time he has allowed this issue to be discussed. Progress has been made but we are at an impasse. Listeners to "Morning Ireland" earlier heard a mother, Jacinta, whose son, Sam, has met the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health. The Minister of State at the Department, Deputy Finian McGrath, has visited the constituency. All the Deputies representing the constituency have backed the call for proper respite care to be provided to people in County Louth. The service is inadequate and families are suffering greatly. Unfortunately, Jacinta, as a recent television programme showed, was assaulted and the programme showed what she is going through to help, support and keep the son she loves in a loving, caring and compassionate home. This is being denied to her by the refusal to provide the respite care services that were promised.

I was informed in reply to a parliamentary question I tabled earlier this year that following the budget, negotiations were in train between the HSE and service providers to provide respite care. Jacinta told me that when she contacted the potential providers they said no such contacts had been made. I will bring the parliamentary question to the Ceann Comhairle's attention following the Minister of State's reply. False and misleading information was given to me, which I gave to that caring mother. The community cares so much about people with disabilities and they try to keep family members at home. They dedicate their lives to supporting them. It is unacceptable that a misleading reply would be so given and I await the Minister of State's response on this issue.

We need to have a caring society and the political system would not have it otherwise, but there is no possibility of respite care being provided until due process, which has not commenced, has been gone through.

I went to the extent of contacting service providers in County Louth today, having visited the property of one of them last year in the company of some family members. They believe that, because of the exceptional measures and the lack of proper respite care in County Louth, the HSE should make an emergency and urgent application for exceptional funding for a temporary period, be it three or six months, so respite can be offered to these families. In the meantime, obviously, the longer and more competitive procurement process can continue.

It is not unusual for the HSE in exceptional circumstances to seek, for a temporary period, services for care of the elderly or people who are very ill. For example, for the winter beds initiative it rings up nursing homes all the time and takes beds from them. These beds will be available in County Louth for these unfortunate people if the HSE officials have the strength and commitment to do that. I intend to pursue them fully, ruthlessly and relentlessly until the service is provided because it is a denial of basic, fundamental human rights when the money is provided by the political system but no initiative has commenced or has been processed as of this day.

See this speech in context