Council write to Minister over respite care
SLIGO County Council has unanimously agreed to write to Minister of State with special responsibility for disabilities to ask that he intervenes regarding the loss of respite services in Sligo.
Councillor Thomas Healy’s motion got round-party support as several family carers looked on from the chamber public gallery. Cllr Healy said the Government was trying to hide behind the skirts of the HSE and cited the case of a 70-year-old woman who was looking for respite for her son. He said families have now to go on a 360km round trip to Monaghan if they want respite.
“The State will not look at them. There is a duty of care here for the Minister. Why was that building (Solas) switched over? We the taxpayers are paying for these services,” he told members.
“Today is the day we need those services. These are our children. There has to be a future for them,” he added.
Cllr Chris MacManus, who seconded the motion, pointed to the hypocrisy of the Government praising the carers but then not providing respite when all they needed was one or two hours when struggling.
Cllr Tom MacSharry said the best care was at home and added his support to the families calls for respite services to be restored in Sligo.
Cllr Sinead Maguire said it was “outrageous’ that they were put in this situation and said it was down to the “mismanagement” of previous governments.
Cllr Declan Bree said that the HSE was “the greatest monster” created and didn’t seem to be accountable.
Cllr Martin Baker said the people who closed the respite centre “had no conscience”, while Cllr Margaret Gormley said it was a “sad reflection on the powers that be”.
Cllr Keith Henry said he would do all he could by raising the matter at the HSE Regional health forum.
Cllr Healy thanked all members for their support for his motion.