Minister accused of ‘stone-walling’ over respite
A Louth TD has hit out at the handling of disability services and respite care in Louth.
Fianna Fáil TD for Louth and East Meath Declan Breathnach spoke in the Dáil in the last week on the issues, and the very real concerns Louth families have about respite and access to services for the disabled.
Speaking in the Dail, he asked Taoiseach Leo Varadkar what was being done to address the ‘extreme crisis that exists because of lack of services for people with disabilities, particularly in Louth’.
‘I pointed out that Minister McGrath is stone-walling the people of Louth on this issue,’ said Deputy Breathnach.
‘I and other deputies have raised the issue on numerous occasions, have sought and have attended numerous meetings, have raised many parliamentary questions.
‘But we get nothing back but empty promises’ said the Louth TD.’
He warned that ‘ the people of Louth cannot be left to cope any longer. This is a crisis situation.’
‘I have also submitted parliamentary questions this week to get exact funding figures for Louth and have also asked the amount of funding given to St. John of Gods, Drumcar and what this funding is being used for.’
Deputy Breathnach said he had received replies to the effect that ‘ these matters are for the HSE to answer ‘and as such the Minister has directed the HSE to respond.’
‘We need action on this issue, and not just the usual fudging of the issues and empty promises.
I will continue to work on behalf of people with disabilities and in need of respite care, and will examine the figures I have requested when they arrive on my desk,’ concluded Breathnach.