Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Apart from being absent for a few minutes, I have listened to proceedings since they began. It started with my colleague, Deputy Stanton, when he said this has not been handled well to date. This meeting demonstrates how badly it has been handled and the serious questions that remain. Is Dr. O'Brien aware that the Mental Health Commission is strong on the issue of out-of-area supports? Given what that commission has said, how can she justify a situation where somebody in Midleton or Youghal will have to travel at least an hour to get the type of 24-hour support they need and their family will have to travel at least an hour to visit them?

On top of that, there is the type of supports in terms of the staff ratio that exists, for example, in St. Stephen's, which is not to say a word against that facility, compared to the staff ratio in Owenacurra. One would have to conclude that there is much more attention to clients, patients and residents in Owenacurra. Does Dr. O'Brien accept she is going against the strong recommendations of the Mental Health Commission by closing this facility?