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

I thank the Deputies for their responses. When I leave this Chamber, I will be asking who put the parents through that particular situation. I am very much aware of the importance of access to planned respite, which ensures that people with disabilities receive opportunities to socialise and facilitates families to receive a break from caring, to preserve the family unit and to provide stability. These are important arguments in this debate.

Respite services are an important part of a range of services supporting people with disabilities and their families. They are crucial to reducing family stress. Short breaks can also provide an opportunity for individuals to meet new people, widen their social circle and gain new experiences. 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.

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 me and the HSE. As I stated earlier, 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. As far as I am concerned, this is only the start of the investment in respite services. I gave a commitment three years ago that I would reform the disability services, invest in them, and put the person at the centre of those services. We need to expand those services and that is my objective.

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