Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

On the issue of respite services, outside the gates of Leinster House today hundreds of people are protesting the closure of the Cuisle centre. It is the only centre in the country that offers holiday services for people with disabilities. That centre is to close at the end of the month. Some 49 people work there and they provide a service like no other. No similar access is available any other part of the country to people with disabilities seeking holidays. A pilot scheme will run next year, but the idea of such a scheme is to research the viability of a project. The Cuisle centre, however, will close even before that pilot project starts, never mind when a decision is made on its findings. I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that the closure of the centre does not happen.

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