Donegal Disability Services will reopen the respite service at Riverwalk Respite House, Carndonagh this April.
The vital service has been halted in recent years as Riverwalk House provided emergency full-time services for a number of adults.
The reopening was further delayed by recruitment.
The HSE has now confirmed that the service will resume four days per week from the 3rd of April 2025.
Further recruitment will allow for further extension of the service to seven days per week.
This week’s meeting of the Regional Health Forum West heard that Riverwalk Respite House is in the process of filling essential staff positions.
One Healthcare Assistant has been successfully on boarded, and the second is in the final stage of acceptance. However, the vacant Staff Nurse position remains unfilled, as no suitable candidates were found within the HSE Human Resources department panel. The search for a qualified Staff Nurse has been expanded to include additional panels within the broader Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, and Monaghan Community Services region.
Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry McMonagle, who is a member of the health forum, welcomed the progress and said: “We have been waiting quite a while for this and is is welcome news.
“I’m sure the people of Inishowen will look forward to that opening again.”
Reacting to the news, 100% Redress Party TD Charles Ward said: “This development represents a significant and necessary advancement for families and individuals who have been deprived of these vital respite services for an extended period. It is important to acknowledge the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of the community, which have played an instrumental role in achieving this progress.”
Deputy Ward added: “Nonetheless, despite the encouraging nature of this announcement, it is imperative that we emphasise the importance of timely implementation. The community cannot bear the burden of any further delays in this process. Therefore, we urge that recruitment efforts be prioritised, ensuring that the planned expansion to seven-day services is realised as swiftly as possible.”
