Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have raised previously the urgent need to have the in-person day services restored at the Irish Wheelchair Association centre in Cavan town. I appreciate the work to date of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, on this important issue. The cessation of services occurred because of staffing shortages. I know from speaking to service users, their families and staff in the IWA that the lack of in-person services is a very serious loss to those people who depend on such vital support week in, week out. To the credit of the local IWA staff, they have put in place outreach and online services pending a return to in-centre services. I appeal again as strongly as I can on behalf of service users and their families that the HSE should respond positively to the business case put to it by the IWA for some additional small-scale resources which are critical to facilitate a return to the level of services needed in the Cavan centre and have the centre re-open at full capacity to meet the needs of service users.

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