Government TDs must listen to people with disabilities and provide vital respite services across the North West

Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny has called on government and independent TD’s across the Sligo Leitrim constituency to support this week's Sinn Féin motion in the Dáil which seeks to ensure the voice of people with disabilities is heard by government. 

Speaking ahead of the motion, brought forward by spokesperson on Disability Pauline Tully and spokesperson on Health David Cullinane, Deputy Kenny added that it is time the government gave people with disabilities and their families a break and provided them with care and support.

Teachta Kenny said, “The government isn’t listening to people with disabilities. It is time they gave them and their families a break and provide vital respite services.  The government is failing on assessments of need, services and respite care.  The longer they are in power the worse things will get – it’s time for change.

“Respite and short break services play an essential role in supporting familiar carers and people with disabilities, yet three quarters of families get no respite at all.

“There have been long-running issues across Sligo and Leitrim in relation to provision of services for people with disabilities, particularly when it comes to respite services.  Investment in staffing and indeed in basics such as buildings to house respite services has not been forthcoming for people in the northwest for a number of years now.   

“Government must acknowledge that there has been a significant increase in the level of unmet need in terms of respite care.  In 2022, less than 5,200 people were receiving a respite service - despite an estimated 20,000 people or more with intellectual disabilities, physical and sensory disabilities, and autism living with family.  In fact, fewer people received respite services in 2022 than in 2018, when more than 6,300 families were in receipt of respite care.

“Sinn Féin’s motion, which will be debated in the Dáil on Tuesday, calls on the government to work with stakeholders and service providers across the sector to address their immediate workforce and facility needs.

“It also urges the government to leverage all existing capacity in the sector to support the reopening of closed respite centres, maintain existing capacity in the sector, and prevent further closures.  This government must also implement a multi-annual strategic workforce plan to expand services to address extreme levels of unmet need.

“The government needs to start listening to people with disabilities and their families.

“Adopting the measures set out by the Sinn Féin motion would give people with disabilities and their families the care, services and support they need and deserve.”