The plight by parents and carers for disability respite services in Co Monaghan was raised in the Dail yesterday by Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald.
It follows a meeting at Monaghan's Four Seasons Hotel on Monday evening last as parents, families and people with disabilities gathered for a forum organised by local Sinn Féin TD, Deputy Matt Carthy. Deputy Carthy was joined by Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane TD, and the party's spokesperson on Disabilities, Deputy Pauline Tully.
Deputy Carthy opened the forum explaining that it was arranged following a request by parents of children who have been unable to receive much needed respite services or access to Special education that are required by their children. He said that his priorities were the delivery of an over-night respite centre and a Special School in County Monaghan Currently, County Monaghan has neither service. The services in Cavan are overstretched.
Deputy Tully explained that the services that are in place are not 'family centred'. She said that too many parents are forced to fight every single day for services that their children are entitled to. Speaking in the Dail yesterday afternoon, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald called on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to get an over-night respite centre and a Special School for the county of Monaghan
