A Cork TD has branded a cut in respite funding as "scandalous".
Cork South-Central TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire told the Dáil that 10 of the 27 overnight respite beds in Cork for children under 18 are suspended due to staffing shortages.
He also said that funding for respite provided by HSE Cork Kerry Community Health Care Disability Services to less than 50% of the usual annual development funding - with no funding for residential respite.
In the Dáil, Deputy Ó Laoghaire shared the story of one Cork mother:
"Minister, I had a mother contact my office this month. She was at breaking point. She is a single mother. She had two sons, aged 17 and 14, who both have profound intellectual disabilities. She had not had respite since before the pandemic. She thinks that December 2019 was the last time that she got a break. That's three and a half years ago. That is absolutely scandalous Minister. Three and a half years without a break - respite was the only thing keeping her going and naturally she is finding this incredibly tough".
