Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 14 December 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Closure of Owenacurra Centre: Engagement with HSE

Mr. Mark Kane:

I thank Deputy Ward for the question. To clarify, we stated earlier that additional staffing has been applied to Owenacurra to ensure the building is clinically safe. We have always said, as we have done again today, that there are unacceptable conditions in the building. We brought in an independent conditions survey team and it has identified those items. We have done that in an independent and transparent manner in order to help us come to a decision and conclusion on how best to advance the matter.

There are specifics on building items. We have of course put in place some mitigation measures relating to fire works and we have done some interim works to de-risk the position to a sufficient level. This is not a long-term-----