‘Second class citizens’: Senator demands action on MS services in Leitrim and Sligo

The issue of the lack of a community support worker for those with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Leitrim and Sligo is set to be raised with Minister for Children, Equality and Disability, Norma Foley TD.

Sligo-Leitrim Labour Senator Nessa Cosgrove spoke in the Seanad today about the need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the funding of Multiple Sclerosis services in the north west.

MS Ireland held a meeting on September 19 in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Sligo, where they announced their business proposal. 

They are seeking €72,997.56 to employ one community support worker to cover Sligo and Leitrim – the only counties in Ireland without such a post for those living with MS.

Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Cosgrove highlighted the urgent need for such a position.

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“Currently the north west has the highest incidence of MS in the country, but unfortunately and alarmingly there’s no MS community support worker in Sligo or Leitrim,” Senator Cosgrove said, adding that they play a vital role for anyone who has MS.

“MS Ireland is looking for just short of €73,000 to employ a community worker, which in the grand scheme of things, is just a drop in the ocean,” she added.

Senator Cosgrove also noted that the MS Therapy Centre in Sligo fundraises €100,000 annually to keep its centre running, and she believes that because the centre has been so successful, the need for a community support worker has been overlooked.

“I’d like to hear a statement on how people with MS in the north west are not going to be treated anymore like second class citizens,” Senator Cosgrove concluded.

Noel Grealish TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, spoke on behalf of Minister Foley. He responded with information about HSE disability services and the work of MS Ireland. 

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He explained that disability services are provided based on the presenting needs of an individual rather than their diagnosis or the specific type of disability. He also noted that there are approximately 9,000 people with MS nationwide, and that MS Ireland organises a range of “living with MS” programmes across the country.

Senator Cosgrove pushed back, saying there was no indication in his response of any commitment to delivering MS services in the north west, and asked that the matter be brought back to the Minister.

“This is going on for decades. It’s particularly [frustrating] when there’s the highest incidence of MS in the north west and we don’t have the basic services that other counties do,” she said.

Minister Grealish confirmed that the HSE has received a submission from MS Ireland, which is being considered as part of the 2026 budget, and assured that the issue would be brought back to the Minister.

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