Councillor Brendan Fay wants the Minister of Children and Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte, to resign from her job and "let someone else take over". He is disgusted at how the Minister did not have "the respect or integrity" to respond to two letters sent to her by Cavan County Council.
The council first wrote Anne Rabbitte in May asking her to provide more therapies, services and facilities for families with children with additional needs in Cavan. She was asked to clarify her plans to meet the ever-increasing need in the county. When Anne Rabbitte did not respond to the first letter a second was sent but, at the last meeting of Cavan County Council, members were told neither the minister nor anyone from her department had responded to that letter either. Independent Councillor Brendan Fay reacted angrily to the update and said Anne Rabbitte "should be removed, called on to step down".
The lack of support for children with additional needs was raised by Fianna Fáil Councillor Philip Brady who made an impassioned plea on behalf of the many families who have approached him for help. Councillors Patricia Walsh, Winston Bennett, Áine Smith and Carmel Brady all said they have heard similar stories and the lack of services was one of the most prevalent issues for people on the doorsteps during the recent local election canvass. Brendan Fay told Northern Sound it's an "absolute disgrace": "We had two ladies from Holy Family School in Cootehill come in and give us a presentation way back at the beginning of the year and, we've now written twice as we referred to in our meeting last week," Cllr Fay said, "Neither her department nor her herself have even bothered to write back to Cavan County Council outlining her position, what she's going to do - if anything - and I think it's an absolute disgrace".
