Mother facing eviction denied respite for non-verbal sons

Detailed summary

A Dublin mother who is being evicted from her home with her two severely autistic teenage sons has said the HSE has repeatedly told her that emergency residential care is…

A Dublin mother who is being evicted from her home with her two severely autistic teenage sons has said the Health Service Executive (HSE) has repeatedly told her that emergency residential care is unavailable.

It comes despite Government assurances made last week that emergency placements for people with disabilities would be funded.

Yvonne Nolan, her two 16-year-old sons who are severely autistic and non-verbal, and her daughter are facing eviction from their home in Dublin next Tuesday.

The boys have severe and complex needs, and their home has been specifically adapted to keep them safe.

"I've like bulletproof, shatterproof windows upstairs. The electrics, the locks: you'll see where you're going and you won't be able to get out.

"Everything has to be secured to keep them safe based on their needs," she said.

Dublin City Council has offered the family a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre as emergency accommodation following the eviction. But the HSE has said there is no residential or respite care available for the boys.

"I got a response to say there's no capacity for a residential place. I want my boys to be safe, secure and happy. This (home) will keep them safe and secure.

"They've come back to say no capacity for residential and also no capacity for emergency respite.

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