Anger at care home ‘box-ticking’ after relocation of over 70 special needs adults

Parents in Co Kerry who took part in a consultation process around the relocation of 77 adults with severe special needs into the community have described their involvement as “little more than a box-ticking exercise”.

A public row broke out in September between management at the St Mary of the Angels centre in Beaufort, St John of Gods, which runs the centre, and the parents of the adults who live at the campus over its plan to relocate residents into regular houses in towns across the county, a move known as decongregation.

The parents say their children are not suited to living in regular housing, as they have better access to services and care at St Mary’s.