Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to raise an issue of extreme importance to the people of my constituency of Laois-Offaly and it will be of immense importance to some people in south Offaly who may be in the constituency of the Minister of State, who is replying, depending on what happens; hopefully not, but one never knows.

The issue has affected several day care centres around Laois-Offaly. It became public last weekend, after staff in Birr community nursing unit were told on Friday that day care services were to be suspended for the summer. It appears there were some attempts this week to say staff were not told that, but they were most definitely told last Friday that services were to be suspended from 16 June. I believe it was also to happen in several other centres in the constituency, including Abbeyleix, Mountmellick and Edenderry. I understand from a telephone call I received today that it has been announced that the day care services in Mullingar will close for five weeks. Senator Nicky McFadden, with whom I discussed the issue today, has expressed her concerns. The Minister of State may not have an answer in regard to that area but this seems to be a trend in the midlands.

It appears the situation has arisen because of the recruitment embargo. Posts of those who have retired, or who are on maternity or sick leave have not been filled because of the tight budgetary position. The staff in all these units work extremely hard to try to make ends meet. Given that many of the units are doing a good job, I do not accept that this argument should come into play.

I am sure the Minister of State appreciates the importance of these facilities. For example, 115 people use the service at the unit in Birr for different amounts of time during the week. These people have very different levels of care need. Some are extremely vulnerable and many have no direct families. For many it is their only social interaction during the week. It is not just about the social interaction; it is also about the care needs and the medical needs that are fulfilled in the day care service. The service is so crucial that a few years ago a decision was taken in Laois-Offaly not to suspend the service for the month of August. Given that people depended on it so much, closing it for that month was found to be cruel and to cause a degree of difficulty.

In a local radio interview yesterday the HSE indicated that there is a lesser demand for its services during the summer. I do not accept that argument. Very few of the 115 people who use the unit in Birr are able to go on a two-week holiday. They need the service and use it constantly. The number of people using the unit in recent years shows clearly that the demand does not change during the summer. The cessation of the service, if it goes ahead, will lead to a virtual collapse of the public health nurse service also. The nurses are already stretched to the limit and cannot possibly take an additional 115 people on to their books for the summer months. There is no back-up plan or plan B if this goes ahead.

On Tuesday morning we were told the decision was on hold. Some politicians have interpreted this as meaning that the closures will not take place. I am not so convinced and I wonder whether they actually read the e-mail from the local health manager. What is the precise position? According to the statement from the health manager, while a final decision has not been taken on curtailment of services in Laois-Offaly PCCC, the Health Service Executive will keep the matter under regular review. The letter gives no indication that the plan will not proceed. Although the decision taken on Friday appears to be on hold, I seek a commitment that services will not be suspended either in the summer or at any other time. I ask the Minister of State exactly what the HSE means by the comment in the same statement that plans are being considered which may result in alterations to the current level of service in the near future. What services will be curtailed?

This week I was contacted by a woman from County Offaly who was unable, due to the severity of her injury and her medical condition, to use crutches and a walking frame given to her when she broke her leg. When her son approached the hospital to try to secure a wheelchair — the family was prepared to hire one from the hospital — he was told to go to Argos. This case arose because the hospital is so stretched it is unable to provide basic services such as a wheelchair.

I am concerned about what the HSE means when it refers to "alterations" in current levels of service. While I am aware local staff are trying to implement cuts in areas which do not affect members of the public, the phrase "as a last resort" always seems to enter the equation. Cutting services to people in serious need of care and medical attention is not a last resort, nor is it acceptable to me or my constituents. I hope the Minister of State bears good news and will be able to inform the House that vital services will not be curtailed.

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