THE closure of a children and young people’s residential unit in Letterkenny in recent days has been described as ‘extremely concerning’.
The facility at Knocknamona was closed on Friday last meaning that alternative accommodation had to be sought at short notice for a number of children who had resided there in the care of the state.
Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Deputy Pearse Doherty has has now demanded urgent answers from the Child and Family Agency TUSLA to explain the closure and to outline what measures have been put in place to ensure the welfare of service users.
“Over the course of the weekend, I was quite concerned to learn of the sudden closure of the Knocknamona Residential Care unit and the subsequent decision to transfer residents to alternative accommodation outside the county.
“Worryingly, I believe that some of the children who had been staying at the unit in Letterkenny were forced to relocate to care facilities more than 200 kilometres away as part of this action, having been given a mere 24 hours’ notice prior to the move,” Deputy Doherty said.
“I cannot understand the rationale of the authorities responsible in their making this decision which, in effect, has turned the lives of these children upside down without so much as an explanation having yet been given as to why residential services have been suspended,” he added.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)