Dáil appeal for mentally handicapped

GOVERNMENT Ministers and TDs have been urged to back a motion in the Dáil tomorrow calling for emergency funding to help ease the growing crisis in services for the mentally handicapped.

Disability groups say services are stretched to breaking point because no new residential places will be available this year due to funding cutbacks. This means emergency cases that arise during the year typically people left stranded after their elderly parent dies will be left with nowhere to go. In the Mid-West area alone there are 79 people who require residential places and 60 who require respite places.

Disability groups want their local Coalition TDs to support the Opposition motion calling for more funding for the sector.