Planning is granted for respite centre

2021 has got off to a good start for Cunamh Iveragh, with news that planning has been granted for a respite house in South Kerry.

Currently the only hope for parents of children and adults with disabilities for respite care is in Listowel, which is extremely challenging for families to avail of given the distance. The demand for respite also far exceeds space, leaving families with no respite care.

Cunamh Iveragh has been working on a plan for a respite centre in recent years. The organisation purchased the former Presentation Sisters convent in Cahersiveen in 2013, which is effectively two houses – one of which was upgraded and refurbished and is now a day-care centre. The second house is now to be upgraded to a respite house.

Substantial work is needed to upgrade the house and ensure it reaches HIQA standards, and some €200,000 is needed. The charity was dealt a huge blow last year with the cancellation of the Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle, and they fear the event may not go ahead this year either.

However, they remain hopeful that the county of Kerry and further afield will continue to support Cunamh Iveragh and organise any fund-raisers they can to help this very worthy cause.

“We need the money to bring it up to HIQA standards. We are looking for support. We need to fund-raise which is hard enough,” said Loreto Lynch, the newly announced Munster Mum of the Year. She hopes the award will shed light on the respite campaign in South Kerry.