Call for more support for staff and delivery of disability services

By Dan Walsh

Gorey-based Local Elections candidate Darragh McDonald is calling on the government and the HSE to put financial supports in place in this year’s budget to properly staff and deliver both needs assessments and disability services for the long-term. “The ambition to resolve the issues in disability services has been missing from local and national government for some time now,” stated Mr McDonald.

Speaking following a visit to St Aidan’s Services in Gorey accompanied by Fine Gael MEP candidate John Mullins, Mr Darragh McDonald said: “We need to urgently address insufficient funding for disability services organisations. At the moment we have several different types of disability services organisations operating in this country. All are providing similar services but have staff on different pay scales and terms.

“Two local organisations may receive different funding from the HSE for a staff member and as a result the organisation receiving less funds will struggle heavily to recruit and retain staff unless they make up the difference through fundraising in their communities.

“Fundraising should be for the future development of services, not to keep the lights on. This pay disparity is unsustainable for the industry and must be urgently addressed by the HSE to ensure service levels are met. Budgets are approved by the HSE yearly. We must move to longer term budget allocations so that organisations can effectively plan,” added Mr McDonald.  

“The number of potential service users that are expected to need disability services are monitored by the HSE, but given the huge delays and difficulty getting needs assessments completed, I find it very difficult to believe that we really have a grasp of the number needing services in the short-medium term. This is something I have also heard on the doorsteps with families incredibly frustrated that they cannot get a place in a day service setting locally or indeed an assessment to figure out what supports they may need.

“The ambition to resolve the issues in disability services has been missing from local and national government for some time now. I am calling on the government and the HSE to put the financial supports in place in this year’s budget to properly staff and deliver both needs assessments and disability services for the long-term. As an amputee, I am aware of the challenges of navigating the HSE and if elected I hope to be a proactive voice for the sector and families effected to ensure those with disabilities in Ireland get the services and supports needed,” Mr McDonald concluded.