Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her response. We are at one in respect of where we need to get to and I welcome that. However, for the family I am dealing with now, time is of the essence. I fear that childhood is being impacted and also the well being of the family. If one was to try and make this family's life more difficult, sometimes the responses of the agencies could not do a much better job. One of four children was attending a day respite care service in County Westmeath every Saturday and the child got word without any notice that their placement was being discontinued because they were considered not to be compatible with the service being provided. The Minister of State can imagine the conversations that we are having with this family. That is why I welcome the fact that she has committed to meet with them. We recognise how difficult these issues are but they need to be expedited. I welcome what is being talked about regarding building and expanding the services. The provision of more beds is crucially important. There needs to be a full-time, 52-week of the year operational facility in both Cavan and Monaghan. These are two large counties and I can promise the demand will be met

As a matter of urgency, we also need the criteria to change to allow for discretion in the decision-making process. Anybody who has an ounce of compassion, never mind common sense, will agree that in this instance, there has to be a mechanism for this child to have respite care and for the family to have this support. The discretionary element is simply not there at the moment. I urge the Minister to talk to the appropriate officials to change that in the first instance. I will send her the relevant details on to the matters I have raised.

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