“Louth Respite Centre must remain opened” – Matt Carthy MEP
Midlands Northwest MEP Matt Carthy has branded the HSE’s plans to close respite services at Sruthan House in Dundalk as “heartless, irresponsible and ill-informed”.
Sruthan house has been offering a vital respite service for over twenty years to families in Louth, Meath, Monaghan and further afield. A recent letter from the HSE to service users stated that these services would cease by the end of 2019 with a suggestion of alternative services in Dublin, Roscommon and Sligo.
Matt Carthy said “It is the responsibility of any government to first and foremost look after the needs of the most vulnerable in our society. The provision of nearby a respite service is the least that should be provided to family members looking after the needs of a person with disability. To suggest replacement facilities that involve multiple hour journeys is nothing short of callous. The proposal to close the respite services in Sruthan House is heartless, irresponsible and ill-informed. Government supporting TDs in both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil must join the Sinn Féin demand that the Minister for Health intervene to reverse the move.”
The Sinn Féin MEP has confirmed that he has written to the Minister of Health asking that he take the necessary steps to ensure the continued delivery of the much needed respite services in Sruthan House.
Carthy concluded “Having worked closely with many families who have used the services of Sruthan House I know that they are in turmoil due to the mooted removal of respite facilities. This irresponsible proposal by the HSE would severely disrupt their lives. The government should be providing better and more support services to people with disabilities, not poorer and less. The minister must intervene to reverse this proposal.”
ENDS
