Comments made by Health Minister Mary Harney about the Brothers of Charity earlier this week could cause internal strife and were an insult to families providing care for family members with disabilities, the chairperson of the HSE West’s regional health forum said this week.
Former Mayor Cllr Padraig Conneely said a statement by the minister, in which she said if the Brothers of Charity in Galway was unable to supply respite care within budget she would look to other organisations to provide it, was “insensitive” and smacked of a “divide and conquer” attitude.
The former Tanaiste made the veiled threat to voluntary organisations providing disability services while on a visit to Waterford on Tuesday. She was reported as saying that Ability West also provides disability services in Galway.
“If for any reason the Brothers of Charity are not in a position to provide the respite I think we’ll have to look at other service providers so the people who are providing care at home get the essential respite that they deserve,” she is quoted as saying.
Cllr Conneely said Minister Harney’s comments lacked compassion and could cause families to question the Brothers of Charity’s ability to provide services.
“Her comments were unhelpful to the families who care for their loved ones with disabilities and who are currently under severe pressure. Scare tactic language from the Minister must be condemned and resisted.”
