Angry parents gathered at a Co Kildare centre for autistic people on Saturday to defend the Irish Society for Autism. Their action followed a report that a health board was investigating the provision of services at Dunfirth Farm, near Enfield.
The centre is home to 36 autistic adults. Last week, the South Western Area Health Board confirmed it had arranged for a review of the provision of services there at the request of parents who had complained.
However, one parent, Ms Sheila Collins, told The Irish Times she was only aware of four disgruntled parents. She provided a list of parents of 31 residents willing to be interviewed in support of the centre. Fourteen of these were among more than 40 people made up of parents, staff and residents at Saturday's meeting.
Their anger was directed at The Irish Times for publishing a report saying an investigation was taking place. They insisted that what was occurring was a "review", not an investigation. They were also angry at the publication of a claim by dissident parents that they rarely get receipts or information on how money fund-raised is spent. Ms Collins said she and her husband Liam had been collecting money for the ISA for 25 years and always got receipts when they put the money into the ISA bank account.
"Nobody gets commissions for collecting money," she said. Another parent, Mr Dermot Connellan, whose son has been at Dunfirth for 12 years, said that "we always put money into the bank account and get receipts". Mr Seβn Prunty, the society's fundraiser, said that "anyone can come and look at the accounts at any time". The people who were complaining about fundraising did not, in fact, take any part in fundraising, he said.
The ISA's chairman, Dr James Hayes, a GP, said the complaints were made by "people who do not fundraise but deplore the effort of volunteers". As regards spending the money, the Director of Services, Mr David Henry, said the annual cost per resident was approximately €10,000 more than was provided by the health boards. Staff had not received the most recent pay rises under the PPF.
He said the ISA had sought a review by the health board in an attempt to get improved funding. Subsequently, some parents had made complaints and the health board had decided on an independent review. He felt confident about the outcome of the review.
On the standard of care at Dunfirth, parents spoke of major improvements in their children when they came to live at the centre. "It's a service to fight for and die for," said Mr Denis Sexton. Mr Collins said the centre was "arguably the best autistic centre in Europe". Thanks to the work of the centre, their son could go for a drink with them, to a restaurant and on holidays, he said.
Dr Hayes said the improvement in his son since he came to Dunfirth was "spectacular". Mr Tomβs Mac Anna, former artistic director of the Abbey Theatre, later told The Irish Times that Dunfirth had given his son "a wonderful life experience which we would never deny him".