Brothers Of Charity respite decision welcome but funding issues remain
Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey today received confirmation (see attached) that respite care provided by the Brothers of Charity in Bawnmore in Limerick will be reinstated from August 16th.
The service has been withdrawn due to lack of funding since June 14th and this placed huge burdens and stress on many families, including those from County Clare, who avail of the service.
Although the service is to be reinstated, Deputy Carey understands there are significant funding shortfalls still present which could jeopardise the delivery of the essential services.
Deputy Carey said:
“I welcome the fact that at least the HSE is beginning to engage with this issue. Yet, my understanding is that the funding put forward falls a long way short of what the service costs to deliver, with the authorities saying that fund raising will be needed to make up the difference.
It is unacceptable that the parents and the clients of this service would be asked to fund-raise for an essential service that should be there as a
right for the most vulnerable in our society. This is the reason we pay our taxes, so that government provides these essential services and not waste the tax intake on bailing out banks and developers.
This matter is far from over. A significant shortfall remains and it will, in my view, be difficult to raise that shortfall given the economic climate. The HSE really need to sit down with the Brothers of Charity and devise a long term ring-fenced budget to provide this service. Until this happens, we cannot be sure that this respite facility will not come under threat again.”
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