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A Kerry carer has slammed the lack of respite services in the county as a ‘scandal’, warning that families caring for relatives with additional needs are now “on their knees”. Jean O’Sullivan, chair of the parents committee at St Francis Special School in Beaufort and the mother of Michael, who attends the school, said many parents are completely burnt out from caring 24/7, with little hope of any time off. There are currently eight respite beds for children in the entire county, with four in north Kerry and four in the south. Each house operates seven days per week with planned closures during the year.. “Our children are in 24-hour care and we aren't getting a break. Parents are getting to the point where they're worn out and they're in a position that they can't look after their children anymore. “The most vulnerable in the county are being forgotten about. These families are literally just trying to keep things together…some of them are up all night and they're not getting any sleep. “We’re in a crisis…I don't know how a lot of families are coping.” #Respite #Disability #Crisis #Burnout https://t.co/MelrOjeKOZ