27 Cork families of adults with disabilities are in dire need of residential places

According to figures presented by the COPE Foundation, there are 168 people waiting for residential places in their centres, and 27 of those are ‘priority one’, meaning that both of their parents have passed away or their sole carer is incapacitated.
The HSE’s Cork Kerry Community Health group said that it has highlighted the problem at a national level, seeking support for more places, but expects the waiting list challenge to continue this year.
The figures were supplied by the Cope Foundation to Fianna Fáil TD Michael McGrath, who said there was a growing frustration at the lack of resources for services for people with disabilities.
“The HSE is not even providing the funding for emergency cases to be dealt with. Behind closed doors, within the walls of certain family homes, there is a real crisis every single day of every week of the year, and they are not being looked after.”
He said that respite for carers is also an issue, as there are not enough temporary beds to place people in.