Seanad debates
Thursday, 12 February 2026
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Disability Services
2:00 am
Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, for coming in.
Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chuig an Teach ar maidin. The Minister of State is very welcome to the House and I thank him for taking this Commencement even though it is not under his area of responsibility.
Today, I wish to talk about the disability service for both adults and children in County Monaghan. We were delighted in November 2024 when the then Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte - now Senator - officially opened the Rainbow Lodge children's respite service in Urbalkirk, in County Monaghan. It was a development for which many parents had been fighting for many a day and we were delighted it opened up. The feedback from that facility is hugely positive under the management of Michelle Smyth and her team. They are doing an excellent job and the feedback I am getting from parents and everyone who visits the place is hugely positive. I commend everybody on that. It was meant to be a temporary facility and we were delighted that the HSE proceeded to purchase a building in Monaghan town with a view to having a permanent children's respite centre. I am glad to report that this is currently under planning with Monaghan County Council and we await that decision. Some concern has been raised, however, and people are looking for assurances that the Rainbow Lodge facility will remain operational until such time as a new purpose-built facility is up and running. If the Minister of State could give me a commitment on that this morning, it would alleviate some fears parents have voiced to me.
The other issue I raise is the concern in the county of Monaghan regarding adult disability respite services. Currently, the numbers are such that people are concerned that the service will be very limited indeed. Some people have put forward the notion that when the facility out in Urbalkirk is no longer be required as a children's respite centre, it could be used as an adult respite centre. I do not know whether that would be suitable or whether it would fit the criteria laid down by the HSE but again I am looking for confirmation as to whether it could be used, and if not, what plans the HSE has for locating much-needed additional adult respite facilities in County Monaghan.
The other issue is adult day services. We have some excellent providers within the county but their services are stretched and there is a need for more. The one in Monaghan is located on the grounds of St. Davnet's Hospital. The HSE, through HSE estates, has been very active in trying to locate another site and I understand it has identified a site that may be suitable. I am wondering what progress, if any, has been made in pushing that site on. There are some excellent providers. I know the Minister of State will be aware of them because he passes by a number of them on his travels to Donegal. One of them is Errigal Truagh Special Needs Centre, which has its own ambitious plans. They do an excellent job there. They have plans to extend the facility and we are working with them to advance that project as well. A number of others are also providing an excellent service in the county but they are stretched and additional capacity is required. What information has the Minister of State received from the Minister that would indicate we are actively seeking to progress additional adult respite services and day services within counties Monaghan and Cavan?
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator Gallagher for raising what is an important issue for him, for the public and for those availing of respite services in County Monaghan. I am happy to take this matter this morning on behalf of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Norma Foley. She thanks Senator Gallagher for raising this and offering me the opportunity to respond on her behalf.
Respite services are a vital support, and being cognisant of the significant unmet need in this area, the Government has provided substantial additional funding over the last few years in order to expand all forms of respite nationally. This includes overnight services, day provision and many different forms of alternative respite like after-school clubs and summer camps.
In relation to the Senator’s specific query, I can advise that the disability services in the Cavan-Monaghan integrated health area have secured a commitment for funding for Rainbow Lodge children’s respite service for a period of two years from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2026, pending the development of the new HSE facility. The location of the interim children’s respite centre for Monaghan is at Urbalkirk, approximately 8 km from Monaghan town. The Talbot Group operates the service under a service arrangement with the HSE. I can also confirm that recurring funding has been received for this respite centre until the new development is opened.
The HSE further advises that HSE disability services in the Cavan-Monaghan integrated health area, in conjunction with HSE capital and estates Dublin north east, prepared capital submission documents for the national HSE capital and property steering committee to seek approval and funding to provide for a stand-alone respite centre for adults with an intellectual disability in County Cavan. This development, if approved and funding allocated, would ensure that there are stand-alone residential respite centres for adults in both Cavan and Monaghan, as well as stand-alone residential respite centres for children in each county, in addition to a bespoke, dedicated respite centre for adults with physical and sensory disabilities from both counties Cavan and Monaghan.
In relation to day services, there is an identified need for capital investment in adult day services nationally and in the Cavan and Monaghan area with a number of projects currently progressing through capital programmes. Although day service providers continue to experience capacity pressures year on year in respect of accommodating new school leavers or adults who have completed their rehabilitative training programme, all required placements were secured for those adults identified through the 2024 school and rehabilitative training leavers process. In respect of the school leavers and rehabilitative training leavers identified for 2025, all adults have secured a day service placement and commenced in their respective day services in September 2025. Most recently, funding has been provided to Rehab Care for a new day service premises in Monaghan town which is open and operational.
Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive response from the Minister, Deputy Foley. I very much welcome the commitment within that statement that funding has been ring-fenced, if I can use that word, to keep Rainbow Lodge operational until such time as a new facility is in operation. As I said earlier, there was some concern that perhaps that was not the case. This will go a long way to alleviating concerns that parents had voiced to me.
On the development of adult respite services, mention was given to Cavan in the reply and I very much welcome the work that is ongoing there. There is also a need for the development of an additional adult respite service in County Monaghan. I will continue to voice that as well.
On the adult day services, I understand through the HSE that works are ongoing to explore and identify a site within Monaghan town. I am glad to report that a site has been identified. We look forward to that progressing to a new facility there.
This is good news. It is very much welcomed and I know many families will welcome it. We will all work together to ensure that the best possible services are available to our children and our adults with those special needs.
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator Gallagher again for raising this matter. It will help bring clarity on the interim arrangements in place. I know from speaking to the Minister, Deputy Foley, before I took this on her behalf this morning, that the Senator has been working very closely with her and she wants to relay that both of you will continue to do that with other public representatives in the area as well.
This provides the clarity on the interim arrangements, which are really important for families availing of these respite services. I have no doubt, given his advocacy on this, that the Senator will continue to work closely with the health services locally and the Minister, Deputy Foley, nationally to make sure delivery of the new respite centre will progress in the best possible timeframe and ensuring in the meantime that a service is provided on an interim basis.
I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this matter this morning.