Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Government's commitment to provide respite care services is addressed in the programme for Government. It claims to be guided by the two principles of equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with a disability. That commitment is not working for ten year old Jonathan Kilcommins, a child with Down's syndrome who is very sensitive to noise and faces other challenges. His parents were told that he would have to wait for two years to access the HSE Maria Goretti centre at Lordship in my constituency. I have written to the Minister for Health about this and his reply confirms the waiting time of more than two years. Will the Government provide additional resources for the Maria Goretti centre which provides respite care for 85 children in order that the other 39 children denied this equality of opportunity and a better quality of life can receive respite care?

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