Independent TD for Donegal Thomas Pringle has today called for weekend services to be provided at Seaview Respite Home when the facility is due to be handed over to RehabCare by the HSE next week.
Deputy Pringle says parents, service users and staff have been dealing with partial services for a number of years now with no weekend services on offer.
“This is despite the demand and need for weekend respite for people with physically and intellectual disabilities across south-west Donegal.
“While under HSE management this was never provided and there were frequent cuts to services including a staffing shortage throughout the facility’s history.
“The HSE absolved their responsibility by deciding to hand over Seaview to a third party. RehabCare is due to take over the facility in a week’s time.
“However, I have reservations that a third party will manage to meet the needs of families and service users. Unfortunately the contract with RehabCare currently stipulates a service from Monday to Friday only and with RehabCare raising funding concerns already I am worried that not only will services be curtailed but that a weekend service will be out of the question”.
Also speaking on the issue Cllr. Seamus Maguire and local election candidate Valerie McNulty have spoken out on the need for weekend services and secure long term funding as the facility is handed over to RehabCare.
Speaking on the issue, Cllr. Seamus Maguire says “I have spoken to the many families affected by the current unacceptable lack of service and support from Government. I will be working with everyone concerned if re-elected to ensure we fight to improve respite care in Seaview and Donegal in general. It’s the least these families deserve.”
Local election candidate for the Donegal Electoral Area Valerie McNulty says “Carers, like myself save the Government a huge amount of money and resources but our compassion is completely undervalued by those in power. We need more people in politics who care, who know the real struggles people face and fight for change. I am calling for complete full respite services 7 days a week to be in place in Seaview Respite Home and those who need it to be avail of it as a matter of urgency”.
“Having campaigned for a full service of Seaview Respite Home for a number of years now what we need now is long-term, secure funding so that necessary services can be provided for families concerned. In that spirit I am calling on RehabCare to provide weekend services when it takes over the facility and to fully meet the respite needs of families that use this vitally important service” concludes Pringle.
