Parents 'distraught' at planned changes to CoAction's  services in West Cork 

Families of both child and adult service-users attended CoAction’s AGM, where many expressed outrage at the plans during heated exchanges

Protestors at a March in Bantry organised by the CoAction Parent Alliance to save the Child and Family centre. Picture: Tony McElhinney

A mother who was told her son would “never walk, never talk, never interact with us” has said the family’s joy as he learns to run is mixed with dismay at planned changes to the services which support his development.

Plans to convert CoAction’s €1.3m purpose-built West Cork facility for children with additional needs into an adult residential unit have left families “absolutely distraught” amid claims the move will “affect the services provided for all involved”.