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

I am renowned for my brevity so I will try and keep it that way. I sincerely thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for taking this debate. It relates specifically to the issue of respite services in Cavan-Monaghan. She will agree that respite can make a huge difference for the family of a child with disabilities. It is good for the child, it is good for the parents and it is good for the siblings. It is an essential relief that ensures families can continue caring for their own child at home, but with a break to address other responsibilities, catch up on sleep, and provide everyone with a bit of respite. There are a number of issues with respite services in Cavan-Monaghan. For example, there are no such services at all for children in County Monaghan. When the service in County Cavan operates, it operates very well, but it only operates every second week for children.

There is also a particular issue relating to the criteria-statement of purpose used by the HSE in Cavan-Monaghan. This is relatively new information to me. While I had often made representations and inquiries on behalf of families seeking respite for their children, I was unaware that different criteria are being used in different regions to determine whether a child can access respite services. In Cavan-Monaghan, the HSE has the strictest criteria-statement of purpose for respite care. It states a child must have a diagnosis of moderate or severe intellectual disability to be even considered. That is not the case in neighbouring counties. For example, according to the HSE response to my parliamentary questions, in counties Sligo and Leitrim the eligibility for a child to access respite care is that the child is known to the children's disability network team, CDNT, direct approval has been made by the children's referral committee and the HSE respite co-ordinator must complete a determination of needs assessment. In counties Louth or Meath, a committee in place bases its decision on the following rationale: children who access services in their respective CDNT, children in the care of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, and children who live with families where there are multiple instances of disability. Importantly, it also includes children who present with significant behavioural challenges.

Essentially, children and their families are being discriminated against based on where they live. When it comes to disability services, above all else, that is not tolerable. I am dealing with one particular family and it is an acute case. The child does not meet the criteria that have been set out for moderate or severe intellectual disability. However, the child has disabilities and profound behavioural and other issues. The child and the family need support. They are going through a horrendous time. The child has not been able to access appropriate education, despite repeated efforts. The family is also going through other issues. Another family member is sick and in long-term hospital care. The Minister of State can imagine the pressure the child's mother is under, yet none of that is taken into consideration in respect of respite care. I have been told by the HSE that it is reviewing the criteria issue. Will the Minister of State give a commitment that it will be expedited, and will she agree to meet with this family to hear first-hand how the current policy is impacting them?

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