Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On many occasions I have brought up the matter of St. Joseph's Foundation, Charleville, which has been looking after children with disabilities since 1968. Deputy O'Donnell's father was a co-founder of St. Joseph's. It provides a service in north Cork and the south Limerick area. With a stroke of a pen it has been decided that the preschool children who have a disability will now be graded geographically. Limerick children have been sent to a facility in Limerick that has a waiting list of 180 for each service. It is not unreasonable to ask that we would have a phase-out system. There are five children within a neighbouring parish to Charleville who are now directly affected and are completely at a disadvantage. If this is to happen, could it at least be on a phased basis in order that the children in the services currently who are on the list could be facilitated in the St. Joseph's Foundation care service?

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