Cut would be an act of moral cowardice

As a group of something just over 200 people, a group that would have been far larger if others were not at home minding a loved one dependent on their care, protested at Leinster House yesterday over the budget decision to cut the €1,700 annual grant for respite care by €325, the Health Service Executive was advertising for 35 “leadership coaches” to help managers with the “personal transition” promotion might impose on them.

The “coaches” will be assigned to HSE managers “as and when required”.

Just last month the Department of Health sought €245m to balance its €13.6bn budget so hospital beds would not have to close.