Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am responding to this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. I thank the Deputy for raising it and for giving me the opportunity to outline the position regarding the provision of respite services in counties Cavan and Monaghan.

The Government’s ongoing priority is the safeguarding of vulnerable people in the care of the health service. We are committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives. The need for increased respite services is acknowledged and the HSE continues to work with all service providers to explore various ways of responding to this need in line with the budget available. As part of its ongoing service provision, this year the HSE will provide more than 182,000 respite nights and 42,500 day respite sessions to families in need right across the country.

There has been a significant improvement in respite services this year.

An additional €10 million was provided this year to fund 12 new respite houses. That is one in each HSE CHO area and an additional three houses in the greater Dublin area to respond to the very high demand for respite from this area. These additional houses are providing additional respite for families who need it. Ten houses have opened to date, with the remaining two opening shortly. When fully operational, this will provide 19,000 extra overnights and 2,520 home sharing nights annually. Some €2 million of that extra money is being targeted at alternative respite services. These are practical and important solutions, extended day services, summer camps and Saturday clubs. They are making a difference to families right across the country.

In the context of respite services within Cavan-Monaghan disability services, I am informed by the HSE that Steadfast House has the capacity to provide 1,008 adult respite beds per year. Annalee View Respite Centre, which the Deputy mentioned, has the capacity to provide 910 adult respite beds per year, while St. Christopher’s Disability Centre provides, on average, 730 adult respite beds per year. Annalee View Respite Centre, Cootehill, County Cavan, can accommodate five service users at a time. Respite services in Annalee were recently restricted due to the needs of one person. However, the restriction is now lifted and the service has returned to normal capacity. The number of adult service users continually increases as service users transfer from child to adult services. This impacts on the level of respite existing service users receive. A number of service users have associated mobility needs which mean they can only access downstairs bedrooms. This affects the level of respite they receive. We are acutely aware that families need support to care for their loved ones and, therefore, Government is committed to providing a range of accessible respite care supports for people with a disability and their families.

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