Disability Services
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-12
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Charlie McConalogue (FF), Donegal

I thank Senator Gallagher for raising what is an important issue for him, for the public and for those availing of respite services in County Monaghan. I am happy to take this matter this morning on behalf of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Norma Foley. She thanks Senator Gallagher for raising this and offering me the opportunity to respond on her behalf.
Respite services are a vital support, and being cognisant of the significant unmet need in this area, the Government has provided substantial additional funding over the last few years in order to expand all forms of respite nationally. This includes overnight services, day provision and many different forms of alternative respite like after-school clubs and summer camps.
In relation to the Senator’s specific query, I can advise that the disability services in the Cavan-Monaghan integrated health area have secured a commitment for funding for Rainbow Lodge children’s respite service for a period of two years from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2026, pending the development of the new HSE facility. The location of the interim children’s respite centre for Monaghan is at Urbalkirk, approximately 8 km from Monaghan town. The Talbot Group operates the service under a service arrangement with the HSE. I can also confirm that recurring funding has been received for this respite centre until the new development is opened.
The HSE further advises that HSE disability services in the Cavan-Monaghan integrated health area, in conjunction with HSE capital and estates Dublin north east, prepared capital submission documents for the national HSE capital and property steering committee to seek approval and funding to provide for a stand-alone respite centre for adults with an intellectual disability in County Cavan. This development, if approved and funding allocated, would ensure that there are stand-alone residential respite centres for adults in both Cavan and Monaghan, as well as stand-alone residential respite centres for children in each county, in addition to a bespoke, dedicated respite centre for adults with physical and sensory disabilities from both counties Cavan and Monaghan.
In relation to day services, there is an identified need for capital investment in adult day services nationally and in the Cavan and Monaghan area with a number of projects currently progressing through capital programmes. Although day service providers continue to experience capacity pressures year on year in respect of accommodating new school leavers or adults who have completed their rehabilitative training programme, all required placements were secured for those adults identified through the 2024 school and rehabilitative training leavers process. In respect of the school leavers and rehabilitative training leavers identified for 2025, all adults have secured a day service placement and commenced in their respective day services in September 2025. Most recently, funding has been provided to Rehab Care for a new day service premises in Monaghan town which is open and operational.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-12/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:37+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-12