Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Respite plays a key role in supporting family carers and providing good experience for a person with a disability. It can help prevent or at least delay full-time residential placements. It preserves the family unit and supports family stability. I was speaking to a person in my constituency who was looking for respite for a long time for his daughter, who has quite complex needs. He said they were absolutely at breaking point. His daughter did not sleep much at all. They were awake most nights of the week. They were actually in crisis mode before they were offered respite. He said it has made such a difference to their life, in that their daughter is getting regular respite every two weeks. Why wait until a family is actually in crisis mode before offering this vital support? As has been pointed out to me by many, issues like this, where supports are not provided, break marriages and cause mental distress.

Today I attended the MS Ireland pre-budget submission presentation in the audiovisual room. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, was there. They stated that 64% of caregivers are emotionally drained and 32% experience depression. Some half a million people provide care in Ireland. They do so much unpaid work. We all recognise the crucial work they do but they do not need a pat on the back and to be told how wonderful they are. They need the active supports on the ground, such as respite, which would make their job bearable and make them stronger so they are able to provide the care they need to provide for their loved one.

I have raised the issue before of my area of Cavan. Annalee View Respite Centre in Cootehill provides respite for adults and children from Cavan and Monaghan, and Steadfast House in Monaghan provides adult respite as well. When Annalee was closed another house was provided, Killygowan Respite Centre. Why was this house not kept open? I have asked this before. I have asked the HSE and it told me it was not provided with the resources to keep it open. By resources I presume it means staff. I ask for an answer on that. It would make such a difference if there was one house providing respite for children and one house providing respite for adults, instead of on a week about basis. It would increase the service to a major extent. There are numerous reasons families apply for respite and there are different types of respite that can be provided but it is important that it is given.

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