Deputy Catherine Connolly said the situation that has emerged post-Covid in relation of the number of respite beds available in the city and county, along with a list of people waiting for home care, is of great concern. In response to a specific Dáil question, Deputy Connolly was informed that pre-Covid there were 25 respite beds available in the city and county including 12 in Merlin Park. Post-Covid, there are now only 4 respite beds available. Indeed, the number at Merlin Park has gone from 12 to 2, the Aran Islands has gone from 2 to 0, Carraroe has gone from 2 to 0, and Clifden District Hospital has gone… Continue Reading
Positive decision by HSE not to outsource catering facilities at St Francis home.
Deputy Catherine Connolly has said that she very much welcomes the confirmation from HSE West that the catering facilities at St Francis Home, Newcastle will not be outsourced to a private company. This facility has been an integral part of the day centre service for many years providing wholesome and nutritious meals to those attending the day centre. In addition, it also provides meals for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAHMS) at Merlin Park. Indeed, it has been the recipient of awards for the quality of the food it produces and in its most recent Annual Inspection Report the Mental Health Commission highlighted that “residents were provided with… Continue Reading
Ongoing Closure of Galway Respite Services.
Deputy Catherine Connolly said she has the most serious concerns in relation to the Government’s ongoing failure to reopen essential respite services in Galway City and County, which have been closed since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. She said it is completely unacceptable that people have been left for almost a year and a half without the crucial supports they, or their loved ones, so desperately need. It is particularly shocking, she said, when viewed in the context of the reopening of hospitality and the easing of other pandemic restrictions. Deputy Connolly said that she has consistently followed up on this matter in the Dáil over… Continue Reading
Outdoor drinking in Galway
Deputy Connolly said the Garda Commissioner was right to highlight the difficult position that Gardaí on the ground have been put in in relation to drinking in public areas. The difficulty has arisen directly from the government’s message that this was to be an outdoor summer. Notwithstanding this message, there was no preparation and or no anticipation of the challenges that this would pose. The bye-laws, which prohibit the consumption of alcohol in public places in Galway, were enacted only after a very long consultation process. A number of issues came to the fore during that consultation process including the impact of uncontrolled drinking on residential areas, and the lack… Continue Reading
Motion on Implementation of National Maternity Strategy
On Wednesday 2nd of June, Deputy Catherine Connolly will introduce a private member’s motion in the Dáil calling on the Government to urgently implement the National Maternity Strategy and to ensure that the National Maternity Hospital remains entirely within public ownership. Deputy Connolly has raised these issues on a number of occasions in the Dáil, highlighting that despite the fact that Ireland’s first ever National Maternity Strategy, “Creating a Better Future Together”, was launched in January 2016, very little progress has been made to-date on implementation. The February 2020 HIQA Overview Report, which was based on inspections of Ireland’s 19 maternity hospitals, highlighted a lack of clarity and leadership within… Continue Reading
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