A Monaghan father of two children with additional needs has urged other parents in his situation to get their children registered for respite care now.
Paddy McAloon is a member of Special Needs Active Parents or SNAP, a Monaghan based campaign group of parents who have children with special needs.
There are currently no respite services for children in County Monaghan.
Monaghan is also one of only a few counties in Ireland that doesn't have its own special needs school.
SNAP, however, is pro-actively and doggedly lobbying local TDs and government ministers to deliver respite services for the county.
Despite the lack of services, however, Paddy McAloon still insists it's important that every parent of a child with special needs registers their child with their local Child Development Team:
