Number of Cork respite beds down almost 40% over last six years

It has emerged there has been an almost 40% reduction in the number of public respite beds in Cork over the last six years.

The issue came to the fore during a Dáil debate on Tuesday, following the response to a parliamentary question by Social Democrats leader Cork South West TD Holly Cairns seen by The Echo.

It shows that respite beds have decreased from 73 in 2018 to 46 in 2024, while convalescent beds have decreased from 41 in 2018 to 23 in 2024 — a joint decrease of 45 beds and an almost 40% reduction.

The HSE said: “Short-stay beds can be interchangeable for use in response to particular service needs in residential care units at any given time, therefore it is important to note that the total number of respite beds in any one month can fluctuate.”

Closure

Speaking in the Dáil, Ms Cairns said access to respite has still not recovered from the pandemic and the closure of community nursing units.

“There are daily financial struggles, anger at the lack of services, constant anxiety about the absence of supports, and dread about what will happen to loved ones when a carer is no longer around.

“There are more than 299,000 unpaid carers in Ireland.

“That figure has grown by 53% in just six years.

“Every one of those carers provides an invaluable service to the State, but the State does incredibly little to support them.”

Report

Her comments came as Sinn Féin tabled a motion on carers after the release of a Family Carers Ireland report last week.

The report showed that almost three quarters of carers have never received respite, and the vast majority are finding it difficult to make ends meet.

Cork South Central TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said: “In this motion, we are calling for a commitment from Government for a minimum respite guarantee and a significant relaxation of the Carer’s Allowance means test,” he said.

Cork North Central TD Thomas Gould added: “A lady I am dealing with at the moment has to fight for everything.

“She drives her two children, both of whom have special needs, to school because they attend different schools. She cannot get school transport or therapies. She cannot get anything.

“The woman is at her wits’ end. I was on the phone to her last week. She said to me: ‘Tommy, who’s going to look after us? Who’s going to look after my children?’ That is what she is asking and that is what we are asking here.”

Funding doubled

Junior Minister Anne Rabitte said that funding for respite service provision had doubled in 10 years, with an increased number of respite hours nationwide.

“I acknowledge that demographic challenges associated with the increase in the number of people living with a disability, the increase in age and life expectancy, and the changing needs of people with a disability have all led to the need for increased respite services, and we are working hard to step up provision on a continuous basis,” she said.