Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I wish to raise a matter relating to Annalee Respite Care Centre in Cootehill, County Cavan. This time last year, Annalee Respite Care Centre was forced to close its doors because of an oil leak in the building. As a result, for 12 months there have been no respite facilities for families in Monaghan and Cavan. The situation is causing great hardship for many families in both counties. The issue shines a light on the chronic lack of childcare facilities available to families in Monaghan and Cavan and it highlights the chronic need for a separate facility for children.Ideally, we should have a childcare facility for adults and a separate facility for children.

We all know that being a carer is a tough, 24-7 and 52 weeks of the year job. These people are totally dedicated to the people they look after and many times it is at the expense of their own health and well-being. Surely it is not too much to ask of society that these family carers are given a short break, a chance to carers to recharge their batteries and a bit of time to themselves. Families in counties Cavan and Monaghan deserve that right as much as those in any other part of the country.

As I said, the ordinary man on the street would find it difficult to understand why a simple oil leak in a building has not been rectified after 12 months. Why is it taking so long to put the building back into commission? Why have the carers in counties Cavan and Monaghan not been given an interim facility that would accommodate their needs? I am sure the Minister of State will agree that is simply not good enough. I am sure that if there was an oil leak in a business or in the Minister of State's family home that the premises would not be vacated for more than 12 months. Nobody should be. There are questions to be asked and I am hoping the Minister of State might answer some of them. When will Annalee View be up and running again? What is the story with the promised interim facility? When can the carers expect that facility to become available?

We all agree carers do an excellent job. The least we can do, as a society, is provide them with a short break away from their full-time roles.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this matter which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, who, unfortunately, is unable to attend. If I do not have all the answers to the Senator's questions, I will ask the Minister of State to provide them directly to him.

This is a very important issue and I have been given the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, to outline the position in regard to the provision of respite services in counties Cavan and Monaghan. The Government's ongoing priority is the safeguarding of vulnerable people in the care of the health service. It is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities that will empower them to live independent lives. Respite services are an important part of the range of services that support people with disabilities and their families. As part of the ongoing service provision, this year the HSE will provide more than 182,500 respite nights and 32,662 day respite sessions to families in need across the country. 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.

In 2018, there was a significant improvement in respite. An additional €10 million was provided to fund 12 new respite houses. That is one in each HSE community healthcare organisation, CHO, area, plus an additional three houses in the greater Dublin area to respond to the very high demand for respite from the area. All 12 houses are now fully providing additional respite for families in need.

With respect to respite services in counties Cavan and Monaghan, the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, has been informed by the HSE that respite services within Cavan-Monaghan disability services are currently provided as follows. The Annalee View respite centre caters for both adults and children with moderate to severe intellectual disability and associated medical conditions. It has the capacity to provide 910 adult respite beds per year. Unfortunately, due to an environmental issue at the centre, the HSE is unable to facilitate respite at this time. However, a new proposed property for respite in Cavan town has been identified. All documentation for the new proposed property for respite has been submitted to the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA. The HSE awaits confirmation of registration from HIQA.

Steadfast House respite centre in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, currently facilitates service users from Annalee View respite centre in Cootehill, County Cavan, during the closure and will provide overnight respite to individuals, as soon as possible. Steadfast House respite centre provides 840 respite bed nights per annum.

Cavan-Monaghan disability services currently offer a day service at the weekends for children and adults. Additional home support is available upon request and alternative respite is being explored.

St. Christopher's disability centre, Cavan, on average provides 730 adult respite beds per year. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, has been advised that operational capacity at St. Christopher's is operating as normal. He wants to assure the House that the Government is committed to providing a range of accessible respite care supports for people with a disability, and to supporting their families as best as possible.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response and appreciate that this is not his brief. I am disappointed the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, is not here to address this issue but I understand he may have other commitments. I have two questions and I would appreciate if the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, would pass them on to the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. On what date will Annalee View be operational again? It is imperative that we get that information and I ask that the matter is treated with more urgency. An interim facility was due to be commissioned. Due to the fact that Annalee View is not available, what is the current situation with the interim facility?

An additional separate respite service for children has been promised. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, indicated that he is looking into that. I ask for a progress report on that service. I would appreciate if greater urgency was attached to this issue than has been the case to date. It is the least the carers of counties Cavan and Monaghan deserve.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, is very much aware of the importance of access to planned respite which ensures people with disabilities receive opportunities to socialise. It facilitates families to receive a break from caring, preserve the family unit and provide stability. Respite services are an important part of a range of services that support people with disabilities and their families, and is crucial in helping to reduce family stress. Short breaks can also 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 the HSE continues to work with all service providers to explore various ways of responding to this need in line with the budget available. The additional funding that was provided last year for alternative respite services continued in 2019 and remains a high priority for the HSE. Every effort is being made to support families as best as possible. Joint working is currently active between the Annalee View respite service and the second respite service for adults with an intellectual disability within counties Cavan and Monaghan. Steadfast House respite centre in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, will provide overnight respite to individuals, as soon as possible.

I will certainly pass on the Senator's queries to the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, and ask him to respond as soon as possible with answers.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State and the Senator for their brevity. That concludes Commencement matters.