Sir, - Last weekend in Kilkenny, the 40th Annual Meeting of NAMHI (National Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland) called on the Government to put in place effective services, adequate funding, properly-trained staff, realistic support for carers, and to deal with the deficiencies and lack of co-ordination in the existing system. Many similar motions have been put repeatedly to the Government for many years. The message was spelt out loud and clear that persons with intellectual disability are legally entitled to an appropriate service. There have been some improvements, but the fact remains that there are still people out there in impossible circumstances.
Families are living in fear of their teenage or adult children with behavioural problems. An appropriate service is not always available for children and young adults with autism. Severely disabled children are often cut off from health board-funded service at age six, even though there is no other facility in place for them.
Government money should not be given to sporting organisations until funding is put in place to ensure that all persons with special needs get their constitutional rights. - Yours, etc.,
Mary Powell, Turtulla, Thurles, Co Tipperary.