Donegal Sinn Féin TDs Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Pearse Doherty have called on government TDs to reinstate and expand vital respite services for people with disabilities and their families.
“There is now a significant and growing level of unmet need in terms of respite care, with less than 5,200 people receiving a respite service in 2022 despite an estimated 20,000 people or more with intellectual disabilities, physical and sensory disabilities, and autism living with family,” Deputy Mac Lochlainn said.
“Incredibly, fewer people received respite services in 2022 than in 2018, when more than 6,300 families were in receipt of respite care.”
Speaking ahead of a Sinn Féin motion, to be brought forward today by spokesperson on Disability Pauline Tully and spokesperson on Health David Cullinane, Deputies Mac Lochlainn and Doherty said that it is time the government gave people with disabilities and their families a break.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “Respite and short break services play a critical role in supporting carers and people with disabilities, yet three quarters of families get no respite at all.”
Deputy Pearse Doherty said: “I’ve been in touch with a mother that has been waiting and waiting to avail of respite services at Drumboe Respite House in Stranorlar.
“For over three years now this service has not been available, despite many attempts by myself to have the issue resolved including speaking on it in the Dáil.
“Back two years ago I was told that it was in hand, then again last year. All the while, people like the mother who contacted me must continue to wait for this vital service. It’s not good enough”.
“Our motion, which will be debated in the Dáil on Tuesday, calls on the government to work with stakeholders and service providers across the sector to address their immediate workforce and facility needs.
“It also urges the government to leverage all existing capacity in the sector to support the reopening of closed respite centres, maintain existing capacity in the sector, and prevent further closures.
“They must also implement a multi-annual strategic workforce plan to expand services to address extreme levels of unmet need.
“Adopting these measures would give people with disabilities and their families the services, care and support they require.”
