Independent Ireland TD for Roscommon-Galway, Michael Fitzmaurice, criticised the lack of progress in securing adequate care for a resident of County Roscommon with severe autism, during Leader’s Questions in the Dáil on Tuesday.
The case, which Deputy Fitzmaurice first raised five weeks ago, involves a teenage boy in County Roscommon, Seán Sullivan. His father, Kevin, has said that he is struggling to manage the boy’s violent outbursts at home. Despite years of engagement with health authorities, no suitable residential care placement has been found.
Deputy Fitzmaurice did not hold back in describing the severity of the situation, highlighting the daily challenges faced by the family.
The Independent Ireland TD commended the Taoiseach’s office for its communication but voiced his frustration over a lack of tangible solutions: “Unfortunately, all we have had are meetings, meetings, meetings and waffle, waffle, waffle”.
Taoiseach Simon Harris acknowledged the failures in this case and apologised: “I am very sorry that Seán has been failed”.
The Taoiseach went on to assure Deputy Fitzmaurice that the Government is monitoring the situation closely. He confirmed that a further meeting between the family, the HSE, and the Brothers of Charity is scheduled for this week (today, Thursday), with Minister of State Anne Rabbitte also set to attend.
While acknowledging the complexities of the system, Deputy Harris admitted that “the slow pace of securing a residential placement” for Seán was unacceptable, emphasising that funding was not the issue in this case. He expressed sympathy for those involved, reiterating the Government’s commitment to finding solutions.
Deputy Fitzmaurice closed by lamenting the overall lack of accountability within the HSE and the public sector. He noted that in the private sector, such inefficiencies would not be tolerated: “There is no accountability, whether it is the HSE or the charity sector”.
The exchange underscores the growing pressure on the Government to address the gaps in Ireland’s healthcare system, particularly for vulnerable individuals and their families.
