A ‘lifeline’ for service users and their families

Members of Cavan County Council have called on the HSE to provide “sufficient support” to the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) so that services in Co Cavan can be maintained and enhanced.

The move followed two notices of motion on the subject by Cllr John Paul Feeley (FF) and Cllr Patricia Walsh (FF) after it emerged last week that discussions were taking place between the HSE and IWA regarding the future of service provision at IWA’s daycare centre in Cavan Town.

Local staff have resorted to operating a pared back ‘outreach only model’ due to difficulties around the recruitment and retention of staff.

“The service is essential for users and their families so they can engage fully in society,” Cllr Feeley told those gathered at Monday’s local authority meeting, the final one before June’s 7 Local Elections.

“The service here in Cavan is experiencing particular challenges around staffing, which are being exacerbated by the payment of agreed increases to those staff,” he continued.

“The other side of this is that the HSE is recruiting huge numbers of care workers for the community and various institutions, and this is taking from the cohort of people who are willing to work in the IWA. They are also challenged by getting people with the right skillset and all of this is going to have to be looked at in the context of recruiting staff in Co Cavan.

“The service is looking at recruiting people north of the border and bringing in agency staff - as a short term measure - to try and alleviate some of the difficulties. We are showing our support here and want to ensure that everything that can be done will be done to keep this very valuable service going.”

Cllr Patricia Walsh then highlighted how she had attended the public meeting about the matter in the Kilmore Hotel last week. She said it was heartbreaking to hear what the families who use the facility had to say.

“This facility in Cavan provides a lifeline for service users and their carers,” she continued.

“And yes there are issues around the recruitment and retention of staff, and with pay and conditions, but when you listen to the families impacted by this and the impact it is having on them, your concerns would grow. People are frustrated and annoyed over what is happening, which is understandable, and all they want is for money to be put into the service so they can benefit from it.”

Both councillors received unanimous support for their calls from their council colleagues.