Residential and respite services for St Michael’s House to be cut back

One of the largest service providers for people with disabilities in the State has warned it will have to cut back on residential and respite services following a €1 million reduction in its budget.

St Michael’s House said it will have to close a residential and a respite home, shut others for one day a month and withdraw allowances, subsidies and transport costs to meet targets.

More than 1,600 children and adults with an intellectual disability are cared for in its 170 day and residential centres across the Dublin area.

Chief executive Patricia Doherty said the latest recent cut by the Health Service Executive — which has been backdated to July 1st — will inevitably result in some service reductions.

'Unavoidable impact'
"While we recognise that this will have an unavoidable impact on services, I want to assure you that we will make every effort to try and ensure that this will have the least possible impact on people with disabilities and their families," Ms Doherty said in a letter to parents and guardians.

“Not all cuts will apply to each individual or family.”

The charity — which has lost €12.3 million in its budget since 2008 — claimed €430,000 was already being lost through pay and efficiencies needed under the Haddington Road pay agreement before the HSE cut an extra €500,000 from its budget for 2013.

The organisation already has largest waiting list for residential care in the country, with 330 people on a priority list.

Of those, 52 families are described as being in very serious difficulty and 264 adults with an intellectual disability in its care still live with a parent over 70 years of age.

Drastic measures to save money include closing one residential home and a respite service, sending hundreds of service users in residential care home for nine hours one Sunday a month to save on double pay, and reducing staffing levels across the organisation.

Elsewhere a rent subsidy for children and adults in residential care will be stopped, hiking rents from €90 to almost €125 a week, while the trainee allowance to service users who attend training centres has been stopped. – (PA)