Respite services in Galway
Deputy Connolly highlighted the lack of respite services, especially in Galway, and said families were being left waiting for restoration. The Taoiseach agreed the situation was important and said he would engage with the Minister on restoring services nationwide.
Tá seirbhísí faoisimh nó respite services á n-ardú agam inniu. Tá sé níos cirte easpa sheirbhísí faoisimh a rá, i nGaillimh ach go háirithe, ach de réir mar a thuigim, ar fud na tíre. I am referring to respite services. I am in receipt of a letter, dated 14 June, confirming there are no respite services in Galway and that, in the HSE West area, they will not be resumed because tá siad ag fanacht ar threoracha ón Rialtas - they are waiting for a national directive. A year and three months after the declaration of the pandemic, that we have no respite services restored is simply unforgivable in a country that is telling our young people they can travel and telling people they can drink ad nauseam on our streets, yet we cannot restore respite services.
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Táim buíoch den Teachta as ucht na ceiste. Aontaím go bhfuil sé tábhachtach go mbeidh seirbhísí faoisimh ar ais agus ar fáil do dhaoine, sna cásanna ina bhfuil géarghá ann ó thaobh na seirbhísí sin. I am satisfied to engage with the Minister in respect not just of Galway but of the entire country in terms of the restoration of respite services, notwithstanding the current pandemic. It is a very fair point that is being made.