O’SULLIVAN CALLS ON MINISTER TO RESOLVE INEQUALITY IN FUNDING OF RESPITE SERVICES
Issued : Friday 13 August, 2010
Limerick City Labour T.D. & Party Spokesperson on Health Jan O’Sullivan has today written to Minister John Moloney outlining her concerns that families in the Mid West are expected to raise most of the money needed to re-open respite services unlike any other part of the Country..
There has been extreme anger in Limerick that in order for the respite centre managed by the Brothers of Charity to remain open and financially viable those availing of this vital service and their families must fundraise over €100,000.
While there is serious pressure on our public finances other providers of essential respite services such as the Daughters of Charity in the Eastern part of the Country have received top up grants to enable them maintain frontline services without the necessity of asking families to go out onto the streets and raise the shortfall required.
We cannot allow for a situation were additional funding is provided to certain service providers in particular areas of the Country while families in other locations requiring the same level of care and assistance must depend on the generosity of the public to retain services.
Budget allocations and additional top up grants must be allocated on a fair and equitable way so that service providers are not unfairly disadvantaged in the provision of services to those most vulnerable in our society.
