Deputy Martin Kenny welcomes confirmation respite services will be provided for people with disabilities from the south Leitrim

Sligo Leitrim Deputy, Martin Kenny TD has welcomed the news that respite services will be provided for people with disabilities from the south Leitrim area in a house in Boyle soon.  Deputy Kenny said, "this progress is indeed welcome as it is long awaited for the 17 families who are going to be able to get respite". 

At a meeting, yesterday morning with all four Oireachtas members for the area, "Minister Anne Rabbitte and HSE officials informed us that a contract has been agreed upon and funding provided for Gateway Community Care services to provide this service at a house in Boyle, once some minor refurbishments have been completed and staff is recruited.
 
"We were told this is a short-term measure until a new respite house and residential house is built in Carrick-on-Shannon, which is being planned at present. 

I do have concerns that more delays could hamper the service provision, due to difficulties in finding staff or delays in getting work done to the house, but hopefully, if the right urgency and commitment are brought to the task, this service will be operational by the end of March.  There is still more work to be done to utilise existing HSE purpose-built disability buildings in the area to enhance services and ensure that all these families are looked after properly in the future.  
I have also made it clear to the HSE that this short-term service cannot become the long-term and the building of the new facilities in Carrick-on-Shannon must be prioritised and delivered quickly.