The parents of 44 Galway children with intellectual disabilities who are about to leave school this year do not know what services, if any, will be available for them next month.
The Department of Health provides annual funding for emergency placements and services for school leavers. However, according to recent reports there will be no money available this year for the first time.
Meanwhile voluntary services have been facing cuts over recent years and are struggling to maintain existing provisions. Support groups have indicated cuts are also exacerbated by the recruitment moratorium and the reduction in frontline services.
Labour TD for Galway West, Derek Nolan, insists these children deserve “clarity” and “certainty” regarding the services which will be available to them later in the year.
“There are 44 children across Galway, some of whom have severe intellectual disabilities, who are leaving school this year and as of yet have no idea as to what level of service they will have. This is an unacceptable situation and is causing untold worry for families across the county.
“There is a dispute taking place between the Department of Health, the HSE and the service providers with regard to funding these services that must be resolved urgently. This worry and uncertainty must end.”
Deputy Nolan met the service providers, the Brothers of Charity and the parents of the children affected this week and will raise their concerns with the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Kathleen Lynch.
“I will impress on her the urgent need for a resolution to this issue. I will be also asking her to meet with the Brothers of Charity in Galway at the earliest opportunity.”
Meanwhile Fine Gael TD Paul Connaughton says many of the children affected require ongoing speech and language support, physiotherapy or occupational therapy.
Speaking in the Dail he said parents fear their children will regress if they do not receive the necessary support.
“Fears are being expressed by parents of people with intellectual disabilities that the current issues will result in a reduced quality of life for those involved. A number of parents in Galway have been told by service providers that there are no places for their children, and transport and respite services are also being reduced.
“The HSE has stated a commitment to using all available resources in a creative and flexible manner to respond to the needs of these service leavers. I was contacted by a parent in Ballinasloe yesterday whose 18-year-old son at this point does not know what services will be available to him. He is a young man with a great level of needs.”
Responding to the Fine Gael TD’s concerns Minister Lynch said every effort is being made within the available resources to provide services to all 2012 school leavers.
“The provision of work related training is the responsibility of FÁS and the Department of Education and Skills whereas life skills training and general day services are provided by the HSE. Although the HSE makes every effort to provide services to people over 18 on leaving school this has always been dependent on the availability and location of appropriate places, coupled with the needs of the individual school leaver.
“The demand for services for school leavers continues to grow. The HSE expects that approximately 700 school leavers will require services in 2012. Disability services will be required to cater, from within the existing budgets, for demographic pressures such as new services for school leavers and emergency residential placements.”
The Minister noted that budgets have been reduced by 3.7 per cent while the moratorium on staff recruitment creates further challenges. She also said that Department of Health policy emphasises the need for a new model of service provision that, if agreed by the Government, will further the independence of people with disabilities in an efficient and cost-effective way.
“I agree with the Deputy’s comment that there should be much earlier intervention rather than having parents and service users worrying up to the last possible moment every year. This cannot continue but the question is why it was not tackled before now.”
Deputy Connaughton said he was referring to some of the most disadvantaged people in society. “I urge the Minister of State, however, to do whatever she can. Some comfort must be given to the parents of those people. In some of the cases, such as those in the Brothers of Charity or Ability West, due to their limited resources, they are able to deal only with those with lesser issues. The problem is those who need this help and support the most are sometimes the ones who are most disenfranchised.”
