Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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I have a question for the Department. Was it aware of the situation relating to Owenacurra? It seems that this has absolutely nothing to do with residents. It is a measure to centralise service costs in St. Stephen's Hospital and St. Catherine's ward. We have decided to move 19 people 30 km away from their homes. I spoke to a man on Monday who was crying because he is so distressed. He has never left Midleton and never lived anywhere else. None of the people are going into community settings as far as I can see, despite the fact that community settings are being used as a reason to close down Owenacurra. At the end of this process, only one person will be in a community setting. The other 18 people will be in congregated settings or nursing homes. Is the Department overseeing this? Is it happy with this type of capital cost decision-making? Is there any accountability in the east Cork area? Is there any accountability for the decision-making on mental health facilities in Cork in the Department? East Cork will now have not one 24-hour high-support bed, not one. The two respite beds it did have for two people every week, which is 100 respite placements a year, are all gone. Is the Department happy with this decision-----