SITE FOR LOUTH RESPITE HOME IDENTIFIED

A suitable site and service provider for desperately needed respite care in the north east has been identified just off the M1 at Drogheda and local TDs have appealed to the Minister to provide the funding for the new facility.

The ongoing shortage of respite places for families in County Louth was raised in the Dail recently by local TDs Declan Breathnach and Fergus O’Dowd.

Deputy Breathnach asked the Minister to provide funding for a facility that has been identified to provide care for 30 people without further delay.

He said a service provider, Praxis Care, is ready to provide the care and a premises has been identificd.

‘ This service could provide respite to young adults in Louth/Meath/north midlands and north Dublin as the premises identified is just off the M1 at Drogheda,’ he said.

‘It would cost €800,000 to provide the care for 30 people per annum. They just need confirmation from the HSE that funding will be provided and then they could have it operational within three to four months,’ he said. Deputy Breathnach said he also pointed out to the Minister that two social workers have left Drumcar since December leaving no social worker at all in the centre until last week when one was appointed to facilitate the needs of these families. ‘I suggested that in the short term would he consider allowing retired accredited Intellectual Disability Nurses to provide respite in the family homes of these people to alleviate the acute distress on those families now. I know this is not an ideal solution but it would be a temporary measure to give some respite to the carers while we wait for a possible new facility to be prepared,’ said Deputy Breathnach.

Following the Dail debate, Deputy O’Dowd said: ‘Minister McGrath has committed to meeting with us alongside the relevant HSE and Saint John Of Gods officials to discuss long term solutions for these families. The Minister also committed to meeting with the families most significantly affected in the area of respite. The Minister said the proposal is currently being considered as part of the CH08 Respite Provision Project 2017.