Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

I recognise the extraordinary service provided by family carers and all carers. Without their diligence and the work that they do, the lives of many would be in a far worse position. I absolutely and unreservedly recognise their work. As I said, respite sessions for people with disabilities have increased significantly, with over 164,000 respite overnights and more than 65,000 respite day-only sessions, but I absolutely accept it is not enough. Respite is a key priority for the HSE and for the Government and over the course of the Government's life there has been significant investment. For example, the action plan for disability services 2024 to 2026 proposes to increase the level of disability respite provision by around a third. It proposes to do that through a mix of provision of alternative respite options.

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