Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise an issue on behalf of Councillor Teddy O'Sullivan and Jean O'Sullivan in Kenmare regarding the lack of respite services in Kerry for the most vulnerable in our society. In the programme for Government, the Government is committed to advancing the rights and improving the lives of people with disabilities. St. Francis Special School in Beaufort, County Kerry, is committed to providing care and education to pupils with moderate and severe to profound intellectual disabilities. A key strength of the school is the strong peer community that has been fostered over the years. Pupils develop deep friendships and find a sense of belonging within the local community. This is a critical part of their overall development. As the students transition into adulthood, they face a significant gap in service provision. The disruption of their peer network can lead to distress and regression.

There is an urgent need for an adult day service and a respite service to be established on the grounds of St. Mary of the Angels in Beaufort, County Kerry. By implementing this initiative we can ensure, first, continuity of care in that St. Mary of the Angels would provide a familiar setting, reducing stress and enhancing the well-being of our young adults, while the community of peers built at the Saint Francis Special School would be maintained, fostering continued social integration and emotional support. Second, it would reduce the stress for their families, provide a guaranteed pathway from school to adult care, eliminate the need to find appropriate replacement care, while parents would have peace of mind knowing that their children would remain in the supportive and familiar environment. Third, it would make effective use of existing resources such as St. Mary of the Angels, which is centrally located in mid-Kerry, making it accessible where a transport network is already in place. Fourth is the long-term cost savings to the State in that a structured transition service would result in significant savings for the HSE and the State by establishing services within the existing campus, which would eliminate the need for costly adaptations to other facilities. The solutions being proposed by me today tick all the boxes for the students, their carers, their peers, especially for their families, for the HSE, the healthcare system and indeed the State. I invite the Minister, Deputy Naughton, to discuss this on the floor.