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Dáil
‹ Questions on Promised Legislation

Solas respite centre in Sligo

Summary

Deputy Scanlon raised delays to replacing the Solas respite care service in Sligo and the uncertainty for a large regional area. The Taoiseach said he had no details but suggested submitting a parliamentary question or Topical Issue to the Health Minister.

A programme on RTÉ last night referred to the Solas respite care centre in Sligo, which was built seven years ago at a cost of €1.5 million. I have raised this issue on several occasions in the House. At the start of the year we were told that the facility would be shut down and the service provided by an outside agency from the end of September or early October. Unfortunately, that service is not yet in place. In fact, I understand the provider has not yet identified a building from which it can be delivered. The area encompassing Sligo, Leitrim, south Donegal and west Cavan is massive, with a broad spread of patients who require respite care. Everybody was very happy with the service provided at the Solas centre before it was shut down under the decongregation model. That policy amounts to a false economy. Those who require emergency respite care, including people in wheelchairs, must now make a round trip of 240 km from Sligo to Monaghan. That is neither fair nor humane.

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I do not have any information to hand on the particular local service to which the Deputy referred. He might submit a parliamentary question or a Topical Issue to the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, or the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath.

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