Breathnach meets with Minister to appeal for respite funding

LOUTH TD Declan Breathnach has met with the Minister of State with Responsibilities for Disability Issues, Finian McGrath to discuss the lack of respite places available in County Louth.

Deputy Breathnach said he outlined to the Minister the serious lack of funding for respite care in County Louth.

He said: ‘I co-ordinated a meeting through my office for the Minister to meet with all of the Louth Oireachtas members as this is such an urgent issue, it should be cross-party. I had debated this in the Dáil last week along with my Louth Oireachtas colleague, Fergus O’Dowd, TD. I have said time and time again, this situation cannot be allowed to continue.’

He said he was ‘ dismayed’ to find there is no funding available in the short term to fund a facility that has been identified to provide care for 30 people despite the fact that a site is available and could be operational within three to four months.

‘It would cost €800,000 to provide the care for 30 people per annum. There is a service provider ready to provide the care and a premises has been identified,’ said Deputy Breathnach.

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

We need confirmation from the HSE that funding will be provided so that they could have it operational within 3 to 4 months,’ he said.

Deputy Breathnach expressed his disappointment at the response received last week in relation to the funding issue which said no such funding is available in the 2017 budget allocation.

‘ This is not acceptable, these families are literally at breaking point,’ he said.

‘ The Minister advised us at the meeting that he was meeting with the HSE and St. John of Gods on Monday 17th July, so hopefully he will see the urgent need for these families and allocate monies to provide the service.’