Following years of campaigning by parents and carers of children with special needs in Monaghan, Northern Sound can bring news that €15m has now been earmarked for respite facilities across the country including County Monaghan. There are currently 57 people in Monaghan waiting on respite care. The new funding will be able to provide respite to 85 families here, Disabilities Minister Deputy Anne Rabbitte said in the Seanad.
The breakthrough was announced by Minister for Disabilities Anne Rabitte following a question put to her by her Fianna Fáil colleague, Robbie Gallagher. In her response Minister Rabbittte said "As I stand before the House here today I can say that we have allocated and sourced €15 million in this year's budget". Just last night, a public forum was held in Monaghan where anyone who cared for a child or adult with special needs could speak publicly about their daily struggles without respite. Acknowledging the plight of Monaghan parents, Deputy Rabbitte said Monaghan was a priority for her department.
She said she does not "find it acceptable children [in Monaghan] must share respite on alternative weekends so she has "ring-fenced" funding to make Annalee House available as a full-time adults respite centre and "at the same time a new house for children in Monaghan will be procured." Senator Robbie Gallagher says it is now up to the HSE to purchase a property and turn it around so it is fit for purpose as a respite facility.
Senator Gallagher said "I know from talking to HSE officials they too now are in the position where heretofor funding wasn't ring-fenced; they now have that funding ring-fenced so it's up to them now to go out now and purchase a property in County Monaghan that can be adapted or to build a new property either/or, whiechever is the quickest, it's up to them to proceed with that with pace and I, as I said, earlier with others will keep the pressure on to ensure that this respite fracility for County Monaghan - much, much needed - will be delivered without delay."
