LISTOWEL RESPITE HOUSE TO FINALLY OPEN

A HOUSE secured to provide respite for families with adult children of intellectual disabilities is finally set to open after a protracted campaign by affected families struggling for years with little help from the State in the area.

News of the impending opening of the respite house in Kilmorna outside Listowel was widely welcomed this week, coming after the vital service was hit by lengthy delays in getting it to this point.

Affected families campaigned hard on the issue in recent months as they struggled to provide round-the-clock care for their adult children with little apparent support from the State.

Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, which announced funding to open it on a full-time basis, acknowledged families’ plight: “We acknowledge this has been a difficult time for persons requiring a service and their families as they have consistently advocated for a service in a constructive and respectful manner,” a spokesperson said.

The service had announced the parttime opening of the centre last year, but it required extensive refurbishing to meet HIQA standards, delaying the outcome. Now complete, HIQA inspected the centre last week - however the opening is dependant on the inspection result.

“Our plan is that respite will be offered at the house before the end of March, and that it will be fully operational by the end of April. This is dependent on the outcome of the HIQA registration process, and the recruitment of staff,” the service said.

Kerry Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris was among the politicians who represented families on the issue to welcome it this week, describing it as a ‘small step in the right direction’.