Galway Bay FM Newsroom – A Galway East TD is warning the Health Minister that he needs to wake up to a ticking time bomb in the disability sector.
Fianna Fail’s spokesperson on Disability, Colm Keavney, is accusing Leo Varadkar of becoming desenstised to what he calls a ‘spiralling crisis’.
He claims that despite repeated warnings from health watchdog HIQA to the Department on Health on the current condition of the sector, the situation has steadily worsened.
Deputy Keavney says that one unit in Kilkenny has already been closed over safety concerns, while a number of registration for residental services nationwide have been cancelled.
He says basic standards are not being met to guarantee a safe service – and Leo Varadkar is standing back from the situation rather than searching for a solution.
Deputy Keavney says extensive reform is needed to tackle the deepening crisis.