St. Francis Special School at Beaufort, County Kerry, is a fantastic facility. We should be striving to develop a centre of excellence there for respite facilities for children with special needs and all types of disability. These services are under threat throughout County Kerry. It was recently announced that day services at Cahersiveen, based in a building purchased by a local charity group there, Cúnamh Iveragh, are to be curtailed. The lands at Whitefield, Beaufort, were generously donated by the Doyle family many years ago, specifically for children with disabilities and special needs. In the recent past, there were moves to close St. Mary of the Angels at Beaufort. Respite is a huge problem in every corner of County Kerry. There is a massive shortage of beds for children and their carers, who are at the end of their tether. The carers are doing-----

Sentiment score: 0.19

-----the State a huge service. They have not had a break in several months, even for a night or two. Excellent services and facilities are on site, as well as suitable land for future and further development. Our ambition should be to develop a super respite centre in Beaufort. It is an ideal location in the heart of mid-Kerry.

Sentiment score: 0.43