Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Healy and Mattie McGrath for raising this important issue and for giving the opportunity to clarify and outline the position on St. Rita's respite service in Clonmel. One of the issues that I put on the Estimates debate last year was an extra €10 million for respite services and I opened the 12th respite house in recent weeks. There is investment going on in respite services but I will deal specifically with St. Rita's in this debate.

This 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. This commitment is outlined in A Programme for a Partnership Government and I was the one who inserted it. It is guided by two principles, namely, equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. Respite services are an important part of the range of services supporting people with disabilities and their families. Short breaks can also provide an opportunity for individuals to meet new people, widen their social circle and gain new experiences.

I accept the Deputies' arguments because respite care is crucial in helping to reduce family stress, to preserve the family unit and to provide stability. The need for increased respite services is acknowledged, I acknowledge it, 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 182,500 respite nights and 32,662 day respite sessions to families in need across the country.

In 2018, there was a significant improvement in respite provision. An additional €10 million was provided to fund 12 new respite houses. That is one in each HSE CHO area, plus 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 that need it. All 12 houses are now open and fully operational and I am proud of that.

Of that extra money, €2 million is being targeted at alternative respite services. These are practical and important solutions. Alternative respite is working well locally, with good examples of summer camps, evening and Saturday clubs having taken place, benefitting hundreds of adults and children. Further additional respite initiatives are planned for 2019 in each HSE CHO area.

South East Community Healthcare, SECH, provides children’s respite services in two locations in south Tipperary including the Brothers of Charity camp in St. Rita’s respite services. In addition, SECH provides outreach and home-based respite to children with challenges accessing centre-based respite for a number of reasons including those confined to home for complex medical reasons or difficulty socialising safely with other children as a result of emerging diagnosis and responsive behaviours. The HSE is fully committed to maintaining the same level of service this year as in 2018.

The additional funding provided last year will continue in 2019 and, in particular, the €2 million allocation to be spent on alternative respite services remains a high priority for the HSE. SECH acknowledges the quality service provided by St. Rita’s and will ensure that the necessary resources required for the summer respite programme in St. Rita’s will continue to be provided to the Brothers of Charity in 2019.

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