The HSE has confirmed it is not able at present to provide the level of respite service that’s required for children and adults in the Sligo/Leitrim area.
The admission has come in an answer to Sligo Fianna Fail Councillor Keith Henry at the most recent HSE West Health Forum meeting.
The HSE has also confirmed it is now to outsource the respite service.
Cllr Henry says respite facilities in the Sligo/Leitrim area are currently being reconfigured.
That involves oursourcing, which means the HSE has to seek tenders from other providers.
The HSE says this will take a number of weeks.
Urgent respite is currently being provided in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.
The HSE is also planning to use a large house it owns in Tullaghan, Co Leitrim, to provide respite in the future.
It says the house has been surveyed and has been found to be in good order.
However, an application will have to be made to have it inspected and registed by HIQA.
The HSE says this will happen as soon as the tender process for providing the new respite service is complete and a provider selected.
The HSE also says that in the meantime it will work with families and offer home support.
