REPRO FREE
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Centre completed 18 months ago opens for special programme to provide support to parents of children with severe disabilities
Funding needed to keep service going or else it will be withdrawn by month end
28 families providing round-the-clock care themselves to children at home with acute needs get much-needed break at St. Gabriel’s Children’s Respite House
Tuesday 23 June 2020: Exhausted parents of children with the most severe, life-limiting disabilities have been finally given a much-needed break during COVID-19 lock-down after a purpose-built facility was specifically adapted for a special June Programme for the children.
The €2.9m St. Gabriel’s Respite House in Co. Limerick, which is the first purpose built facility of its kind in the country, was completed 18 months ago but has not opened due to operational funding deficits. However, it has now been specially adapted and opened in response to the urgent need for support to parents exhausted by the round-the-clock care they give their children.
The state-of-the-art centre located in Mungret, on the outskirts of Limerick city, is a dedicated facility designed to provide respite breaks for children from across the Mid-West who have physical disabilities and complex medical needs.
The children typically attend St. Gabriel’s School at nearby Raheen during day-time but the school has been closed since the coronavirus outbreak in March. Likewise, carers have not been able to visit some families, leaving parents left on their own to provide for the 24hour complex needs of the children.
The creation of a June Programme, however, has brought much needed respite for both the children and parents. But funding is now required to keep the high dependency unit open into the future or this much-needed support will be withdrawn at the end of the month.
Pictured at The centre is Dylan Tierney with his mum Lorraine.Pic Arthur Ellis.
