Cut in respite aid for intellectually disabled ‘devastating’

A REDUCTION in home support hours and respite services will cause untold hardship for parents of intellectually disabled children and will lead to greater institutionalisation of the intellectually impaired, according to the head of the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies.

The federation’s chief executive Brian O’Donnell, said the combined effect of budget cuts and the moratorium on staff recruitment meant some group homes no longer had sufficient staff to run a service, forcing their closure. This lead to the amalgamation of residents of a number of homes, compromising quality of life, Mr O’Donnell said.

“For instance if we lose two or three staff in a home because someone retires or takes leave, those people cannot be replaced and you could end up closing a home that had catered for four people and moving them into a home where another four people already live.