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

Nationally, the investment in residential, respite care and home services in the past three years has been amazing, but if there are particular gaps in counties, I will listen to the position on them. At national level, the HSE received funding of €5 million to support the development of respite care services. That funding was subsequently allocated among community health organisations in the form of 12 respite care houses. As I mentioned, a new respite care house run by Kerry Parents and Friends Association was opened in March 2018. The one in west Cork was opened in December 2018. On alternative respite care services, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare received in the region of €220,000. I accept the Deputy's point that we first need to get the data right. If there are particular gaps in Cork, we need to look at them also.

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