Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 21 October 2021

Public Accounts Committee

Business of Committee

9:30 am

Photo of Brian StanleyBrian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Is everyone happy? Can we note the accounts and statements? Is that agreed? Agreed. As usual, the listing of accounts and financial statements will be published as part of the minutes.

One item of correspondence has been flagged under correspondence from Accounting Officers and-or Ministers and follow-up to meetings of the Committee of Public Accounts. No. 834 B is correspondence from Mr. Ray Mitchell, assistant national director, HSE, dated 18 October 2021, providing information requested by the committee regarding mental health facilities in Cork. While this was received after the cut-off for this week’s correspondence, and the clerk raised this with me, it has been added for today’s meeting because, as pointed out by Deputy Hourigan, it is a time-sensitive matter, particularly with regard to the proposed closure of the Owenacurra centre. Essentially, the HSE’s position is that there are a range of unacceptable deficiencies and issues with the premises and it states that investment of significant funding into the building would still not bring it up to an acceptable accommodation standard for residents. On that basis, the decision was taken to close the centre. I do not know if Deputy Hourigan is with us. I do not think she is. Do any other members wish to speak on that?