Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of respite care. In the programme for Government and on many occasions since many commitments have been given on respite care. A service is simply not available. Families who have members with intellectual disabilities have been told by service providers that if they have already received a respite care service over a weekend or for two or three days in 2019 - this is only the second week in April - there will be no further service available to them for the rest of the year. It is absolutely disgraceful and nobody is taking the matter seriously. We are facing a massive crisis. Elderly parents are trying to look after loved ones, particularly children, as best they can and crying out for respite care, but a service is simply not available.

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