‘Our safety net is gone’

Forget the financial figures, political press releases and missing minister. The reality of the latest HSE cutbacks scandal can be explained in far easier terms.

Alex Connolly has been profoundly disabled since birth. A sufferer of the genetic condition CDKLS, the 16-year-old is unable to walk, talk and cannot feed herself — making her fully dependent on those around her.

On Wednesday, 24 hours before the €130m HSE cutbacks were announced, the Bray girl’s parents were told vital respite care for the family and 300 others in south Dublin was being axed. Carmona Services, the group running the support on behalf of the HSE, has seen its funding cut by €2.5m this year.