Leitrim one of two counties without permanent respite centre

Cllr Brendan Barry requested an update from the HSE and the council on the progress that has been made on providing a new building for respite services in Carrick-on-Shannon for south Leitrim and the the surrounding areas. 

He noted there had been a meeting with Anne Rabbitte, Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, in May 2022 and the councillors had been told that the HSE was looking at a site beside St. Patrick's Hospital to build a five-bed respite facility and "I had hoped the planning would have lodged with the council before now."

He asked if the municipal district could write to the HSE to "see where they are at with providing that building."

He noted that there was a campaign by parents underway for "more respite for children as it's badly needed in the county; for example if a family has another child in the family that needs to go for an operation to Dublin and will be away for a week, the other parent can't go because they can't get respite. So hopefully we can get a response from the HSE for respite for a facility for adults and children. Or alternatively, the HSE could try and work with St. Ciaran's Day Service to try and get more staff in there so more children can avail of that service."

All members supported the motion with chairperson, Cllr Paddy O'Rourke noting that Leitrim is one of only two counties that doesn't have a permanent respite centre. 

"We desperately need movement on this because although there is a temporary system with the rental of a house in Boyle but we don't know when the landlord may seek back the property."

He said that he understood there have been pre-planning meetings in relation to the provision of a respite centre in Carrick-on-Shannon. 

"All that is lacking is the will to do it. Any members who attended that meeting in May 2022 will be sorely disappointed that so little progress has been made since."

Cllr O'Rourke went on to say that it had proved difficult engaging with the Head of Service Disability, HSE Area 1 (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo) in regard to the project. "That has to change and has to change soon."