Cuts end lifeline for disabled pupils

AFTER spending the last 16 years using the services of the Daughters of Charity St Vincent’s Centre on the Navan Road in Dublin, Sarah Hayden now has only 30 days left there.

Yesterday, her father John and other parents protested outside the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's constituency office in Drumcondra, claiming cutbacks at the centre are unfair.

Mr Hayden said the service has been a lifeline for his intellectually disabled 18-year-old daughter.

"Sarah has been attending the centre with it's school and respite service since she was two. She will graduate from school this year, and had been given the all-clear to start a special skills programme after that.

"However, I have received a letter saying that because of budgetary restraints this will not be possible. I didn't bring Sarah down to the protest today because I didn't want to take one of those last 30 days away from her," the father-of-three said.

The Eastern Regional Health Authority allocated €39.6m for all the Daughters of Charity services this year the same sum as last year.

However, at St Vincent's, respite care services will still be slashed by 40% from June onwards, and no new places are available on skills and life programmes. Daughters of Charity director of services Walter Freyne said there were many reasons for the drastic action.

"A 4% wage increase has to be implemented right across the board, there has been an increase of €364,000 in our insurance, and inflation is running at 5%. There is no way we can run a proper service without an increase in funds and I completely support parents who are angry at these moves.

"It is disgraceful that in this, the European Year of Disabilities no new places on our life and skills programmes have been made available," Mr Freyne said.