Suspension of overnight Co. Mayo Meals on Wheels service slammed - Cllr Paul Lawless
The overnight suspension of a Meals on Wheels service in a rural Co. Mayo town has been described as ‘Bureaucracy gone mad’.
Aontú Cllr Paul Lawless says he is disgusted by the “overnight suspension” of the service that so many elderly and vulnerable people rely on.
Cllr Lawless says “The Meals on Wheels service is under the remit of the Dept of Social Protection. There are two wonderful ladies on the RRS Scheme (Rural Social Development Scheme) for the Mayo South Development Company who are working there for years, 16 and 8 years respectively”.
“They were means tested recently and as a result of being just a few euro over the income threshold the scheme was cut overnight. There was absolutely no thought whatsoever for the elderly and vulnerable people who need and greatly rely on this service”.
“They were not even notified of the scheme’s suspension which is almost unbelievable”.
“The service is run on a three-day basis, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday with lunches being given to people for the days in between so effectively, older people had prepared food for five days “.
“It is absolutely shocking. So many people depended on this service, and it gave them a huge layer of added security knowing the ladies were calling to them. It was part of their routine and to have it pulled overnight with no explanation to them is absolutely shameful”
“Meals on Wheels isn’t just about the food, it is about the interaction between human beings and at a time when loneliness is a huge issue , it is inexplicable how this valuable community service could be cut overnight”.
“Again, it is a bureaucracy gone mad, little thought about the people it affects, it is truly shameful “.
