Healy slams HSE over lack of respite care

THE continued lack of provision of respite services by the H.S.E for families caring for vulnerable children throughout the summer has been condemned by a Sligo County Councillor.

Sinn Féin Cllr Thomas Healy said the closure of the Solas Centre in Sligo had resulted in dozens of Sligo families having no access to residential respite over the past two years as they continue to care for their loved ones in “often difficult circumstances.”

He told The Sligo Champion that the HSE had agreed to “consider providing some type of holiday breaks over August”.

“At this stage it is the very least that could be done as a measure to provide some type of service for our most vulnerable citizens,” said Cllr Healy.

“The H.S.E does not envisage the return of services until October at the earliest, this is just the latest in a series of failed promises and missed deadlines.

“In June 2017 I met with the Minister along with families of those affected, we were promised €500,000 ringfenced for the Sligo service but, over a year later we are no closer to a resolution.

“This is shambolic planning, to close one service without having even tendered for its replacement shows a startling disregard for the public,” he said.

Solas closed in April 2017 after just eight years in service.