Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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I welcome the witnesses. It is very hard to figure out what exactly the motivation is for this change in service and what would seem to be a significant reduction in services at a time there is generally a greater recognition of the need for improving rather than disimproving them.

What families want and are looking for in the main is a building that will be brought up to a good enough standard. They are not looking for state-of-the-art facilities. Very often, when organisations are trying to change things to suit themselves, we see that the best is the enemy of the good. We are told that something is not perfect and not state of the art so we must change it. We are not looking for state of the art. We are, however, looking for a decent service and improvements to be introduced to the existing services. I find it very hard to understand why exactly the HSE is closing down this service.

The point has been made about the 15 existing residents. We are told that six are moving towards nursing home care. What does moving towards nursing home care mean? We are told that nine are going into high-support hostels. That is not what the people themselves or their families want. There is an obvious saving in staff. One cannot help but think this is part of the motivation and that rather than meeting the needs of people with significant dependencies in the mental health area within east Cork, the HSE is forcing people to fit into its requirements. I cannot help but think that is what is motivating this.

I want to address a couple of questions to Mr. Morrison. In June, when he was announcing the closure, he said, "the centre must close because the building is not suitable and cannot be brought to the standard needed and that you deserve." He went on to say that "as we started planning for a refurbishment, it also became clear the work would not be enough to bring the building to the standard quite rightly required by the Mental Health Commission." In a letter to the Taoiseach's office in July, he stated, "... no matter what refurbishment takes place, the building could not meet either building standards or the high standards set by the Mental Health Commission ..."

A strong impression is being given to residents and their families and to public representatives that the commission's concerns played a large part in the closure decision.

It is also implied that other facilities are of a better standard yet some alternative facilities can involve dormitory-style accommodation in ward-based settings, for example, St. Stephen's Hospital and St. Catherine's ward. How does Mr. Morrison reconcile those communications with the reality of those alternative placements where the HSE is proposing to move people from what are essentially single and, in some cases, small rooms to dormitory-style accommodations in St. Stephen's Hospital and St. Catherine's ward?