Disability support group for Dáil and Seanad meeting
At the end of this month a committee made up of parents of children with special needs in the Cavan Monaghan area will make their voice heard in Dáil Éireann.
Formed following a public meeting last April in St Patrick's Hall, Shercock, the group hope to highlight the problems faced by parents because of a lack of support by State agencies.
Linda and Ronan Whitmarsh have two children requiring services from the disability sector, however they feel let down by waiting lists and the slow progress toward support.
The Shercock couple arranged the public gathering to draw attention to what they see as “several issues” caused by the “lack of Disability Services support” in Cavan and Monaghan.
Since the meeting the group have been very busy: “Deputy Pauline Tully, TD for Cavan Monaghan, has invited us to give evidence to the Senate's Disability Matters Committee. We represent a committee of parents deeply concerned about the lack of services through the Progressing Disability Services (PDS) model and the understaffing in the Cavan Children's Disability Network Team (CDNT),” Linda told the Celt.
The campaigning mother says the Seanad meeting is an opportunity to highlight issues: “We are going to present to the Disability Committee the stories of the parents of children in need of disability services from Cavan Monaghan that all share the same message despite the differences in the children involved.
“This similarity is one of heartache as our children grow in front of our eyes towards the possibility of residential care due to dismal staffing levels and incompetent management from the HSE. This incompetence is support by a consistent lack of governance and accountability in the disability sector and until ratification of the UN’s 'Optional Protocol' is achieved, the cry of our children will continue in silence.”
The group will also make a presentation to the lower house: “Deputy Tully has also invited our committee to speak in the Dáil's AV Room on May 31 to a cross selection of TDs,” Linda concluded.
READ MORE