Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

I thank the Chathaoirleach for selecting this matter and Senator Keaveney for allowing me to take her place.

I refer to the reduction in funding made available to organisations providing respite care, particularly for children with intellectual disabilities. I became involved in this issue last Thursday in my constituency in which the Sisters of Charity which is based on the Navan Road and which provides respite care for almost 80 families organised a public meeting, at which we were informed that two weeks' notice had been given for the closure of a centre in which these services were provided. The families I met on Thursday and again today are not getting much help from the State, nor are they asking for much. These are their children, their brothers and sisters, whom they love and care for, at times in very difficult circumstances. The centre in question allows them to have a break, perhaps once a week or once a month, but it allows them space to look after their own mental and physical well-being. This enables them to look after their children or their brothers and sisters with whom they are blessed.

The families concerned are hanging on in difficult circumstances. I am concerned, therefore, that the cancellation of respite care services would have a detrimental effect not only on the young people with disabilities in question but also on those who look after them. I appeal to the Minister of State to use his good offices to ask the Department of Health and Children to arrange a meeting with the HSE which is seeking to make savings and the Sisters of Charity to find a compromise. We are being told continually that if there are cutbacks in funding, everything possible will be done to ensure front-line services will not be affected. Front-line services are being romoved.

The school is closing tomorrow for the summer. In one week the respite care services enjoyed by the 80 families concerned will be removed, the staff who provide them will move elsewhere and the building will lie vacant. This is unacceptable. The reason I am raising the matter is to obtain the Department's perspective and urge it to use its good offices to facilitate a meeting between the HSE and the Sisters of Charity to find a compromise to keep the service open. I again thank Senator Keaveney for allowing me to speak first.