Deputy Gabrielle McFadden has been informed by the HSE that the review of intellectual disability services at St Hilda’s Services in Athlone is nearing completion, and is expected to be finalised in the next week.
The HSE announced in November that it was to undertake a review to address the challenges facing the intellectual disability service provider, following an announcement that there were plans to cut funding to the service.
St Christopher’s Services in Longford is also under review.
“The HSE has informed me in a letter, dated March 30, that when the review and related report are finalised, the final report will be first considered by the HSE’s National Director of Social Care before it is made available to both service providers,” said Deputy McFadden.
“I am glad to note that the HSE has shared interim reports with St Hilda’s and St Christopher’s during the review process to keep them appraised. I am also pleased that, during this review, the HSE committed to stabilising the current financial position at St Christopher’s and St Hilda’s in order to protect current levels of service provision.”
Deputy McFadden said she had raised the issue in the Dáil and with Ministers Leo Varadkar and Kathleen Lynch.
“Continual funding cuts during the recession have led to this funding crisis and it is simply not fair that our most vulnerable should have to suffer. The HSE’s final report must guarantee that important intellectual disability resources in both counties are protected for those that need these vital services,” she concluded.
