Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I warmly thank the Taoiseach for his reply. If the Minister of State and the Government deliver respite services for the people of the Killarney electoral area and all that side of the country, I will be the first person to thank them most sincerely for it.

I will use the short amount of time I have left to say a word about St. Mary of the Angels, which provides an excellent service at St. Francis Special School in Beaufort. The staff provide a great service to our special young people with intellectual or physical disabilities. I remind the Taoiseach that a political decision was taken in 2011 regarding congregated settings. I do not want to fight about this but I will remind what the Taoiseach of what this facility is. It is a wonderful facility. It was a farm donated by the Doyle family to be used as a centre for young people with special needs. There is a church, a heated pool and some lovely walks there. It is a safe environment that has everything going for it. Rather than closing it by stealth, which is what is happening because congregated settings are no longer wanted, I plead with the Taoiseach to look at reviewing the policy along with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and other Ministers. They need to consider whether we got it wrong in 2011 and should look at allowing a place like that to flourish and be there for future families. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his indulgence.

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