North Cork respite centre for children with disabilities set to reopen

A North Cork respite centre for children with disabilities and their families is set to reopen by the end of November.

Cooleens House, a six-bed respite centre in Charleville operated for the HSE by St Joseph’s Foundation, has not offered regular overnight respite since at least February this year.

There had been a reduced respite service in operation on alternate weekends until December 2024, when the centre indicated that it would not be in a position to provide respite, because of staffing issues.

Apart from a brief period in January and February this year, the centre has not been providing any respite service since.

A Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) report in July found Cooleens House substantially compliant in five areas and not compliant in one — governance and management. An unannounced inspection occurred when the centre was unoccupied — meaning that no resident or staff views were obtained — so observations were limited to the premises.

Final stages 

A spokesperson for the HSE’s South West Disability Services told The Echo that St Joseph’s Foundation had assured it that the final stages of a recruitment process would proceed without delay. 

“We expect that staff will be in place within the next eight weeks, which will enable the reopening of the centre.

“In the meantime, 93% of the families affected have been availing of alternative supports on an interim basis.”

A spokesperson for St Joseph’s Foundation said it had been forced to pause overnight respite at Cooleens House in February due to staffing shortages. They added that the foundation was “working very positively with our colleagues in the HSE South West to ensure that Cooleens reopens as soon as possible”.

“The foundation has recruited a dedicated team to facilitate the reopening, and we anticipate that overnight respite will recommence within the next six to eight weeks, subject to Hiqa approval."

“It is important to note that Cooleens is funded to operate on a part-time basis," they said.

John Paul O’Shea, Fine Gael TD for Cork North West, said he was calling on both St Joseph’s Foundation and HSE South West Disability Services to live up to their commitment to reopen the centre, adding: “This prolonged closure is having a serious impact on local families who depend on the service to support their children’s needs and their own wellbeing. Families across North Cork, many of whom are under enormous pressure, have been left without a vital service for years.

“This is a matter of dignity, fairness, and basic support for some of the most vulnerable children and families in our community. They cannot wait any longer.”