Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Government and the HSE are very much aware of the importance of respite service provision for the families of both children and adults with disabilities and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives. Respite is a key priority area for the HSE for people with disabilities and their families, and there has been significant investment in respite services in recent years. New development funding of €15 million in 2024, specifically for respite, will ensure provision continues to expand significantly across the country. This funding will rise to €25 million in a full year. The HSE’s National Service Plan 2024 commits to increasing occupancy of existing respite capacity, where feasible, and alternative respite provision, including in-home respite support hours and group-based targeted measures such as summer camps and evening provision.

Cork-Kerry community healthcare disability services provides respite services for children and adults residing in Cork and Kerry. To respond specifically to the Deputy's question, the funding has been allocated to CHO 4. That will look after Cork and Kerry. Funding for respite has been specifically allocated for Cork and Kerry. This will ensure that where we have four out of seven nights available, the services will go full tilt to seven out of seven. We are also looking at additional capacity of houses to come on stream, and there are business cases in at the moment awaiting our approval. Some will be as part of shared care, where eight children or young adults could share the same accommodation, increasing that capacity where there is a need. At the same time, we are also looking at bringing other buildings back into operation. I think of Sean Abbott and the Cope Foundation who have buildings available and have business cases on which we await a decision from the HSE to be made.

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