A group representing the families of children with disabilities in Cork say the problems associated with long waiting lists and a recruitment and retention crisis in the public disability services sector are all caused by a lack of funding.
The Families Unite for Services and Support group say a report found that up to €20 million would need to be invested in children’s therapy services by 2020, however just €3.5 million was allocated to the Progressing Disability Services plan last year.
A protest to highlight the 110,000 children on a waiting list will take place on Grand Parade in the city tomorrow at 2pm.
Speaking to RedFM News, Rebecca O’Riordan from Families Unite for Services and Support says the Government must take immediate action:
"We have so many families at home; they're sitting there and they're holding tight because they've been told to hold tight and to wait for help that is not coming. And that's the reality. They need to come in and be honest about what they can provide at this point. They need to have interim measures to deal with this, because it's not going to be fixed by September, nor is it going to be fixed by the September after that. We need access to personal budgets for respite, for equipment and as a short term measure, because the reality of it is this issue has happened because of chronic underfunding of this area".
