By Dan Walsh in Gorey
St. Aidan’s Day Care Centre at Gorey has reopened its Respite Service today (Friday) following a decision made at a management meeting yesterday (Thursday) and a visit from Anne Rabbitte, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Health and at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth last Monday.
St. Aidan’s Respite Services were suspended without warning from May 1st of this year due to funding and staffing issues. Local parents and families held a public protest at the time.
In a statement sent to respite users and families seen by WexfordLocal.com, Eimear Mannion, Chief Executive Officer states; “We are grateful to Minister Rabbitte for the commitments she made to us during her visit to our service last Monday. These most welcome commitments facilitated the reopening of Respite sooner than would have been otherwise been possible.”
Ms. Mannion promised to continue to work with the HSE to prioritise the children and adults to receive Respite during the coming period, in accordance with available capacity and the St. Aidan’s Advocacy Group, STAAG, advised the Minister that they are submitting a proposal for additional evening supports, which, if approved, will further enhance the service.
Ms. Mannion apologised to families “for the upset and distress caused by the most regrettable closure period” and she concluded with a warning to the Government. “We again call on the Government to urgently address the pay inequalities for all Section 39 organisations like St. Aidan’s Day Care Services, an unresolved issue that is at the very root of our recent staff shortages,” she concluded.
Leas Chathaoirleach of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council, Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin, speaking today, said; “This is a massive relief to the 140 service users and their families. I’d like to commend the parents for keeping the pressure on over the past few months. “The government needs to address the issue of pay inequality for services such as St. Aidan’s as a matter of urgency and ensure that pay rates match those throughout the HSE, otherwise, we’ll be back here again shortly, and that is something that cannot be allowed to happen.”
WexfordLocal.com 