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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation

St Rita's respite summer camps

Summary

Deputy McGrath said St. Rita’s in Tipperary lacked funding for summer camps for children with special needs, leaving families disappointed. The Minister said he would follow up with Health and noted the importance of support during school holidays.

I hope the Minister will follow up on my issue, which I have previously raised with the Taoiseach and concerns St. Rita's respite care centre in Tipperary. It is a fabulous centre that does excellent work with young people with special and additional needs. It does not have enough funding to provide extra summer camps and young boys and girls have been refused places, to the anguish of their parents and those at St. Rita's. The people in the centre want to embrace and help children and their families, but they do not have the funding to do so. I would appreciate it if the Minister could follow up on this with the Minister for Health. As I said, it is a wonderful respite centre and young children are being denied respite services for the summer due to a lack of funding. I do not know if it is not being spread out or not getting to them but the centre needs funding for additional hours to engage with the people. The summer camps only run for a week, but it is a help.

Comment on this

I know how important the summer camps are at a time when schools are closed and families need some additional support to get through a summer that can sometimes feel very long. I am sure the matter is being progressed if the Deputy has already raised it with the Taoiseach, but I will also follow up on it with the Minister for Health.

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