A group of families of young people with intellectual disabilities have staged a protest at Leinster House over a lack of day services.
Thirteen adolescent school leavers from the north Dublin area had been referred to St. Michael's House through the HSE.
The young people had attended the organisation's schools for children with additional needs and had expected to use the adult day services from September.
However, the service for people with disabilities wrote to their families on 27 June to say the referrals could not be accepted as a result of capacity issues.
The families and supporters of a number of those impacted gathered on Kildare Street this afternoon to call for places to be provided as a matter of urgency.
In the letter to parents, seen by RTÉ News, it said: "Unfortunately, due to a combination of staffing shortages, lack of suitable facilities and a significant existing waiting list for adult day services, St. Michael's House regrettably are not in a position to accept the referral."
The service added that "the HSE and St Michael's House have been working closely in an effort to resolve these issues but to date, we have not been able to do so to an extent that will allow a timely progression for all school leavers that have been referred to St Michael’s House."
The families recently held a meeting with Minister of State for Disabilities Anne Rabbitte and the HSE.
Sharon Flood, whose son Luke is among the young people affected, said the families were only informed that there were no places the day before their children finished school at the end of June.
She said: "We shouldn’t have to fight, special needs are always left behind, we shouldn’t have to fight but it's just the way it is.
"He can’t talk, so I have to talk for him."
Bernie Dixon's son Jamie had also been referred to St. Michael’s House for adult day services after an interview with the HSE in November of last year.
She said her child is 18 with Down syndrome but "an 18-year-old with Down syndrome is not really 18, he’s a lot younger."
Ms Dixon said "it’s just so unfair" and she said she feels "totally and utterly let down."
"I honestly don’t know what will happen. I’m praying that we will get sorted and that all the children will get sorted but I don’t hold out an awful lot of hope."
Other families were critical of not being informed at an earlier stage of the lack of capacity, which they said was known to the service over a year ago.
Christopher Hamilton's daughter Laura had attended St. Michael's House school in Baldoyle but now she has no place in adult day services, which was expected to commence at the start of September.
He said: "they knew what was coming down the track."
"So, why didn't you speak up, regardless of whatever else was happening, you could have spoke up and said OK, let's face the music, we have no position for your child but here's what you should be doing.
"They should have been saying, look we don't have a place for you, but we will do our utmost to find the next place for you and they didn't."
He said he feels "completely" let down by St. Michael's House.
"You have failed them completely, miserably failed them and it's a shame, it's just cruelty what you've done."
In a statement, St. Michael’s House said it "regrets that it is not in a position to provide adult day services to the 13 individuals."
"The organisation, which sincerely regrets this situation continues to review opportunities arising in the day services in order to address this situation."
St Michael’s House also said it will "continue to engage on a regular basis" with the HSE to discuss the issues.
The HSE confirmed that placements in adult day services have been secured for around half of those impacted by the capacity issues at St Michael's House.
In a statement, the Dublin North City and County HSE Community Healthcare Organisation Disability Services said assessments with graduates and families are underway for the remaining service users.
It said: "Every effort is being made to put in place appropriate supports as soon as possible.
"Unfortunately, the number of referrals for 2023 Day Service placements for school and rehabilitative training graduates at St Michael’s House was greater than the number of places available."
The HSE also said service delivery within the disability sector is particularly impacted by challenges around accommodation and staffing.
It said work is ongoing to secure safe, suitable facilities.
It said: "However, availability of suitable, safe accommodation in line with New Directions policy is a challenge due to market conditions and population density in a small geographical area."
The HSE also said challenges in recruitment and retention are being experienced nationally.
It added: "CHO DNCC continue to exhaust all available avenues, including international recruitment, Refer a Friend initiatives, bespoke and rolling campaigns with some start dates already agreed."
