Battle won

Two mothers who joined a carers’ protest outside the Dáil over respite cuts last week, have won back transport services for their two profoundly disabled daughters.

Bracing myself to do battle yet again - annual #SNA cuts timed so we spend the summer worrying bout our special needs kids - nice one ta!

— Ann Brehony (@AnnBrehony) June 19, 2013

With the support of the Carers Association, Johanne Powell and Caroline Dunphy, both from Co Wexford, have been battling to have transport to day care services reinstated for their daughters Siobhán, 29, and Sinéad, 21.

Last April, transport services for the two disabled young women were cut from five days per week to three by the HSE in a bid to reduce costs.

The families said they were each faced with placing their daughters in residential care at a cost of over €50,000 per year so that the HSE could realise annual savings of €16,000 on transport costs.

Carers Association spokeswoman, Catherine Cox, said the transport services were vital for both Siobhán and Sinéad because they received physiotherapy and occupational therapy at the centre.

Ms Cox said they would like to engage further with the HSE on the provision of respite services for young adults with disabilities.

“There is a lack of residential care facilities available for young adults such as Siobhán and Sinéad. Parents caring for older children are terribly worried about what will become of them when they can’t care for them any more.”

Ms Cox said the respite grant had been cut by almost 20% this month and the association would continue to fight to get back as much of the payment as possible.

“Some other way will have to be found to allow carers take a break from their caring role. By taking back €325 a year from them they have made that more difficult.”

On the day of the protest, Joan Burton, the social protection minister, announced that the mobility allowance would not be cut at the end of this month, saying it would be extended to October while a review on funding continued.

The full mobility allowance is €204 per month and it is intended for people with a mobility issue that prevents them from using public transport.