Monaghan Senator Robbie Gallagher said he and his elected colleagues were not - despite appearances - "politicking" when it came to delivering a respite centre for the county.
Rainbow Lodge children's respite centre situated between Monaghan Town and Ballybay was officially opened by Disabilities Minister Anne Rabbitte on Tuesday.
The ribbon-cutting event followed nine months of campaigning by parents of children with additional needs who have been calling for a special school, children's respite centre, adult day centre and specialist therapies in Monaghan.
Anne Rabbitte was following through on a promise she made in March to have Monaghan children in a new respite centre by October 1st.
Over the intervening months, parents had become increasingly frustrated by the slow pace of progress and feared while local politicians were sympathetic to their needs, delivery of what they were asking for, would take too long.
Senator Gallagher conceded Rainbow Lodge is "long overdue" but said he and other local TDs pushed for its completion:
Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy campaigned on behalf of Monaghan special needs families. He said a lot of work can be done from the opposition benches.
