A young Killygordon boy whose case was used to welcome a funding allocation promised to Children’s Disability Services is still without essential care such as physio and speech therapy.
Now Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty has suggested the young boy’s family feel he was used as a “prop” by the Government to make the announcement.
Young Jack Donaghey, has Cerebral Palsy, and is permanently in a wheelchair.
In June 2024, 2 days before the local elections, Minister Anne Rabbitte travelled to Letterkenny to announce that an immediate allocation of €3.6 million in funding to provide essential therapies to four organisations in Donegal.
Jack’s case was used to highlight the good news.
But Sinn Fein TD, Pearse Doherty has now claimed that this funding allocation has still not been passed down.
The Donegal TD raised the matter in the Dail yesterday.
He said “Tánaiste, for too long children with special needs and their parents have been left behind by this government. We now have another scandal where money to fund therapies for children promised by the government 17 months ago was never released.
“My own county of Donegal has become a black spot for supports for children with special needs. For years, parents have been forced to go it alone. Then in October 2023, they thought their pleas for help were heard.
“Minister Anne Rabbitte announced the Children’s Disability Services Grant, supposedly an emergency stop-gap fund to urgently provide services and therapies for children with special needs.
“One Donegal parent who was delighted with the news, was Denise McGahern. Her 9 years old son, Jack Donaghey, has Cerebral Palsy, he’s permanently in a wheelchair.
“Denise has been fighting for physio and speech and language therapy that he so desperately needs and this money was to be allocated within weeks of the Minister’s announcement. 52 organisations across the state were to benefit from it but months later nothing happened.
“Then in June 2024, 2 days before the local elections, Minister Rabbitte travelled with Minister McConalogue to Letterkenny to announce that an immediate allocation of €3.6 million in funding to provide essential therapies to four organisations in Donegal.
“Denise was asked if she and her son Jack would attend the announcement. They were included in the photos with the Ministers. They listened to Anne Rabbitte when she told the media that the money would be an “absolute gamechanger” for children in Donegal.
“They could finally see a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. But 17 months since the Minister’s first announcement, that light has vanished. Because none of this money has been released. Not one red cent. Not in Donegal. Not anywhere in the country.
“I went and sought answers and have now been told by the Department that not only is there no money but that this money was never there at all.”
Deputy Doherty says he has now spoken to Jack’s mum Denise and she said that she feels her son was used as a prop during the election campaign.
He added “I spoke to Denise yesterday, she is devastated. Tánaiste, she feels betrayed. She feels that her son Jack was used by the government as a prop, and in a photo opportunity during an election campaign.
“And I imagine that parents of children with special needs right across the state feel the same way. Let down. Betrayed. Again.
“Now Tánaiste, you were Taoiseach at the time. How on earth did a Minister in your government travel to Donegal to make an announcement that emergency funding was to be provided within weeks to desperate families when the money was never cleared and didn’t exist?
“This was cruel. And you tell me today when I raise this in the Dáil that you’ll look into this and the money will be released. This has been going on for a year and a half and this is only happening because the HSE are not providing the services.
“Jack has not had any physio or any speech and language from the HSE for a year and a half.
“The Department made a promise in front of that child that he would get the service. It is scandalous. And I’m asking you where is the accountability? How did this happen under your watch?
“And when is this money going to be released to these organisations?”
