Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue following her meeting with the group at Emyvale. I know the importance of this. She is right to say that there is a lot of unmet need, when it comes to day and weekend respite for children. We are all working to come up with innovative solutions. The one the Deputy outlined sounds like a very innovative solution. I had the honour of opening one such service recently in another part of the country. To see the impact these interventions can make is very compelling. We are very eager to do more. We provided significantly increased funding for the health services to do more. I will directly raise the issue with the HSE, as the Deputy requested.

See this speech in context