Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for facilitating me. I am not a member of the committee. I thank the members for their co-operation.

I welcome the people from Loughrea who are here today. I commend Mr. Quinn, Ms Cronin and Mr. O'Looney who did the backup. What has been presented here is a wrong that needs to be put right. Someone asked a question about attitude. The attitude is to try to bury this, but it will not be buried. The spin the HSE has put on this is to blame HIQA and Covid-19 for decisions it made itself. It made these decisions in 2017 or earlier or at least in 2019 and Covid-19 was not even on anyone's agenda. The way it has been done has been detrimental to the wellbeing of older people in Loughrea and to their families. People are genuinely upset. People who never protested before have been out walking on the streets.

Four councillors are here today, namely, Councillor Geraldine Donohue who has been spearheading the campaign, Councillor Declan Kelly, Councillor Shane Curley and importantly, Dr. Evelyn Parsons who is a councillor in Ballinasloe and sits on the health forum. She has given me a statement because a meeting of the regional health forum was held recently on 28 June. Decisions were made and communicated on that date by the newly appointed chief officer, John Fitzmaurice. He confirmed verbally that it was decided to pause the review of the plans being discussed for the Seven Springs day centre and to initiate a thorough re-evaluation. In line with this, he stated a recent topographical report had been conducted which holds significant relevance for the ongoing review process. Furthermore, - I am reading from Dr. Parsons' statement:

I am pleased to say he agreed to the HSE co-ordinating a site visit. A date has been put forward in September for elected representatives and stakeholders. This visit will provide an opportunity to gain first-hand insights and perspectives on the Seven Springs Day Centre.

Councillor Parsons is also pleased to share that a motion advocating for the reinstatement of the Seven Springs day centre in its original location put forward by the chair of the regional health forum and seconded by Councillor Parsons was agreed unanimously.

That flies in the face of the review committee members will have received dated 29 June, which says nothing about that review. The HSE probably erred in the communication of what happened at the meeting. When this letter was written, it had not been sent to the relevant people. I dutifully ask the committee to ignore what I would call the HSE's response - they call it a briefing note - because it does not bear any resemblance to what has actually been happening.

I will say one last thing. I will not hold up the meeting much longer. I am very disappointed that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has refused to visit the site. I am not being political but I believe she should visit. I am disappointed from the point of view that she is standing by the HSE without actually interrogating the whole process herself. Coming from a quantity surveying point of view, if you have €1 million that you can spend on something, everybody would accept that it should be spent on something that would be of use to people and that would enhance their lives and their independent living into the future. That money was confirmed by the Minister of State herself. She said it is being donated by a trust. The Topping Trust is supposed to donate money. I put on record that I have been in contact with the Topping Trust. If it is going to support this, I ask it to reflect wholeheartedly on doing so before putting a single euro into it. The fight is not over. I want that message to go out loud and clear. This fight is not over because, when something is wrong, it has to be put right. I am glad to say we have a cross-party team of elected representatives who are working to put this is right. That is what we intend to do. I thank the Chair for his courtesy and his willingness to allow me to say those few words.