Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for taking this debate, given that he is personally aware of the issues that I am raising in respect of Oatfield House. The Talbot Group recently purchased Oatfield House on the outskirts of Athboy, County Meath, to provide a residential home for adults with intellectual disabilities. Substantial works have been carried out on the property to bring it up to a HIQA-approved standard. However, what parents, carers and the local community want is for Oatfield House to provide respite services for adults with intellectual disabilities as opposed to a residential service. Like many public representatives in the area, I have been making representations to the Minister of State and the HSE. We have been advised that funding is not available in this year's budget to provide respite services at that location, but funding is not really an issue. Given that it has already been provided for a residential care facility at Oatfield House, it is more a question of out of which pot the money would come.

The families of adults with intellectual disabilities in north-west Meath and the rest of the county are looking for a respite facility that will support the needs of more than 70 families. The figures speak for themselves. As a residential service, the facility can look after five to six families. As a respite service, it could look after 70 families. This is an opportunity for those in Meath with special needs and their families that should not be missed.

The Minister of State has taken a deep and personal interest in this case. For many years, Meath has been near the bottom of the table in terms of respite services. There is effectively no respite option for families of over 18s with intellectual disabilities in my county.

We must compliment the fantastic work done by the Special Hands Activity Group in County Meath. It has been leading the campaign to get respite services for people with intellectual disabilities in the county and further afield. It is acutely aware of the importance of respite care facilities and the lack of respite services in Meath and many other areas. Families in neighbouring counties, including Westmeath and Cavan, would also benefit from this service.

We have a property that is ready and waiting to provide respite services. We cannot let this opportunity pass us. The house has been fully kitted out to a HIQA-approved standard and can provide the services in question to many people. If we let this opportunity pass, the Special Hands Activity Group and families all over Meath will be back to square one in terms of much-needed respite services.

I wish to press the Minister of State on two important issues. First, there is a short timeframe in which to get funding for respite services at Oatfield House in Athboy. If the Talbot Group does not get an indication from the HSE by November that funding will be provided for respite services, the group will begin the process of opening the property as a normal residential care service. Second, if funding is approved, which I hope it will be, it must be ring-fenced for respite care at the property. We need this facility to offer respite to families for many years to come and to be able to give assurances re same.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and for his work on supporting disability services in Meath. It is important that we understand the position as regards the provision of funding for respite services for adults with intellectual disabilities in Athboy, County Meath.

The Government's ongoing priority is the safeguarding of vulnerable people in the care of the health service. We are committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities that will empower them to live independent lives. This commitment is outlined in A Programme for a Partnership Government and is guided by two principles, namely, equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

Respite services are an important part of the range of services supporting people with disabilities and their families. Respite care is crucial in helping to reduce family stress, preserve the family unit and provide stability. The need for increased respite services is acknowledged and the HSE continues to work with all service providers to explore various ways of responding to this need in line with the budget available. As part of its ongoing service provision, the HSE will this year provide 182,500 respite nights and 32,662 day respite sessions to families in need across the country. In 2018, there was a significant improvement in respite. An additional €8 million was provided to fund 12 new respite houses. That is one in each HSE CHO area, plus an additional three houses in the greater Dublin to respond to the high demand for respite from this area. These extra houses are providing additional respite for families that need it.

All 12 houses are now fully open and operational.

An extra €2 million was also provided to target alternative respite services. These are practical and important solutions and include summer camps and evening and Saturday clubs. There is €2 million again available to the HSE this year for the provision of similar activities in each CHO area. This alterative respite is benefiting hundreds of adults and children.

With reference to Oatfield House, Athboy, I am informed by the HSE Midlands Louth Meath disability services that a house was recently purchased by the Talbot Group and registered with HIQA for the provision of respite services to adults with disabilities. The decision to proceed with the purchase of this house was made independent of the HSE. Meath disability services do not currently have the available resources to fund a new respite service. While Midlands Louth Meath CHO sought funding to further develop the residential respite service in the county, as part of the Estimates process for 2019, funding was not available to proceed with same. However, I am informed that Midlands Louth Meath CHO will continue to seek additional funding for residential respite in Meath and this will be included in Estimates process for 2020.

As Minister of State, I am pushing this issue. I am focusing on the provision of services such as respite, emergency residential services and quality day services.

Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his reply but will take him up on something he said towards the end of his comments. He said the decision to proceed with the purchase of the house was made independent of the HSE. I view that as the Talbot Group taking the lead and the initiative by seeing that there was a requirement and then establishing the facility having recognised the need for it. Talbot Group has listened to the voices of people on the ground in Athboy. I know those families and I listen to them every week because my constituency office is half a mile down the road from this facility. The families are frustrated because they see a fully-equipped facility that could assist many families. If a change of attitude is not taken, it will only assist a small number of families.

I refer to the final points made by the Minister of State, namely, that there will be an attempt to seek additional funding for this. The Minister of State has said he will try to assist with that. Can we get assurances that, if such funding was acquired, there would be a pathway to see this developed as a respite service? Could we give the Talbot Group some indicative assurances that the Minister of State would personally like to see that happen, notwithstanding that he has to go through the process of budgets and so on? Can he assure us, as Minister of State, that this is a type of care that he backs and that, if additional funding is attained, it can be ring-fenced and apportioned to establish this respite service? Can I get assurance from the Minister of State that he backs this concept and that, if additional funding was to come into his pathway, that this could be established as a respite service to look after those 70 families at Oatfield House in Athboy?

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I am very much aware of the importance of access to planned respite and agree with many of the comments Deputy Cassells has made. We must ensure that people with disabilities receive opportunities to socialise as it facilitates families to receive a break from caring, preserve the family unit and provide stability.

I will, of course, do all in my power to assist to develop these services. I am well aware of the Talbot Group and agree with Deputy Cassells that it is an excellent service provider. I am aware of the group as a Minister of State and I know its staff, the high standards that it upholds and the confidence in which it is held by families. I must also be conscious of the necessity for it to be independent, away from the Minister.

Respite services are an important part of the range of services supporting people with disabilities and their families and are crucial to reducing family stress. Short breaks can provide an opportunity for individuals to meet new people, widen their social circle and gain new experiences. The need for increased respite services is acknowledged and I agree with Deputy Cassells about that. The HSE and I will continue to work with all service providers to explore the various ways of responding to this in line with the available budgets.

There are currently 18 residential respite beds available to adults and children in County Meath. I accept Deputy Cassells's reference to 70 families because that is also what I am hearing from people and families on the ground. As I said earlier, I am informed that the Midlands Louth Meath CHO will continue to seek additional funding for residential respite in Meath and this will be included in the Estimates process.