DOW reacts to Minister Lynch's statement

Added: 15-06-2012

The Daughters of Wisdom has reacted to a statement released by the Minister of State, Kathleen Lynch regarding the situaiton at Cregg House.

In a statement released this afternoon, the Daughters of Wisdom say in the ‘Notes for Editors’ section that accompanied the press release from the Minister of State, Kathleen Lynch, yesterday in relation to Wisdom Services it is stated that ‘it is not accepted that the service has been underfunded’. But the Daughters of Wisdom say the facts speak for themselves.   

In a statement yesterday, Minister Lynch said she would like to reassure the families of the children and adults of people with disabilities who are currently receiving services that their service will continue to be provided.

 A spokesperson for the Daughters of Wisdom says the HSE publishes an annual report, which contains details of the revenue, and capital funding paid to Section 38 service providers. An analysis of all the published annual reports  - 2005 to 2010 – reveals that Wisdom Services received a lower percentage increase between 2005 and 2010 than all other comparable service providers in the sector. And they say they do not know why that is the case.

Wisdom Services says its costs are lower than those of comparable services provided directly by the HSE and they have reduced costs substantially in recent years.

The Daughters of Wisdom say they are not in a position to subsidise services provided by Wisdom Services on behalf of the HSE and were faced with the accumulated underfunding and the recent budget reductions were left with no other choice but to reluctantly and with regret cease being a service provider on behalf of the HSE.