AFTER a near year-long campaign, respite facilities in Limerick have been returned to their former capacity. Additional services are also being provided. Families affected by the cuts implemented last June, which resulted in a reduction of over 50% in respite services, received letters from Bawnmore this week confirming that the facility would be fully restored for the remainder of the year.
Delighted with the development Sarah Hurley, a lead figure in the campaign to restore respite in Limerick, and in her late 70s, has cared for her son, John, 38 who suffers from Down Syndrome, at home all of his life.
“The service had been cut to three days per month, but has now been restored to one week per month, along with an additional week during the summer,” she told the Limerick Post
She believes that a meeting held with the new Minister for Disability Kathleen Lynch in recent months was key to the restoration.
“She realised how badly the service was needed and how much money parents who use respite are saving the State, by caring for their children at home.- I’m very relieved as the cuts should never have happened.
“I’m optimistic that we will have full respite in the future and I’m looking forward to my first week-long break shortly and John is also looking forward to seeing all his friends at the house.”.
Owen South has also been a key figure in the campaign for restoration of respite.
“It will actually be better than it was, as there will be an extra week respite in the summer and emergency cover, which wasn’t there before, if a parent falls ill.
“We were very optimistic after meeting with Minister Kathleen Lynch, that she would put her words into actions and the full funding appears to have been restored. It’s been a long campaign but we had to stick to it as this was a basic right that was taken away”.
Both Ms. Hurley and Mr. South praised the efforts of deputies Kieran O’Donnell and Jan O’Sullivan, the local HSE and Norma Bagge of the Brothers of Charity.
Deputy O’Sullivan expressed her delight at the outcome.
“Over 60 families were directly affected by the recent cuts in funding, resulting in their campaigning publicly for funding and support.
“The Brothers of Charity provide a first class service in Limerick, and the anger expressed by people all over the city was clearly evident following the closure of the respite service – it is wonderful to have it restored.”
