Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, the public watching this cannot see the Visitors Gallery is full. These are people who travelled hundreds of miles to be here today to hear the petition being heard. The story Ms Curtis tells about Cork is typical of the other two that are here today.

We have public representatives here at local authority level. Nobody engages with them anymore. Decisions are taken without engagement at local level. If one wants to change something - we heard from Ms Curtis about a plan to build a new centre - nothing should be done until the plan is actioned. Once the site has been purchased and construction has started, one can have a phased transfer from one to the other. This nonsense of making promises that are never fulfilled is designed to shut you up.

I propose that we bring in the HSE and HIQA and get to the bottom of exactly what is going on here, and that we also ask for a moratorium on any further decisions and allow the day care centre in Loughrea and allow the situation in Cork to remain as they are until we get definitive answers on what rationale was used, who made the decisions and why the decisions were made. Where promises were made about new centres, etc., I want to see evidence of the construction, the plan, the site and everything. This is nonsense.

These people's local communities are being devastated. I wonder if the people who are making these decisions ever think they will get old or at some stage need care for mental health for themselves or one of their family.

Let us do that, if we can, as soon as possible.