Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Frank Feighan for raising this issue as it provides me with an opportunity to update the House on this matter. This Government is committed to supporting people to live in dignity and independence in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Where this is not feasible, the health service supports access to quality long-term residential care where appropriate. We continue to develop and improve health services in all regions of the country and to ensure quality and patient safety.

The HSE has operational responsibility for the delivery of health and social services, including those at facilities such as Plunkett Home, Boyle. All developments must be addressed in the light of the current economic and budgetary pressures. The HSE has been asked to make a rigorous examination of how existing funding might be re-configured or re-allocated to ensure maximum service provision is achieved.

The integrated services directorate is the HSE directorate responsible for the delivery of health care services. In line with what is happening around the country, the HSE in Roscommon is currently reviewing its use of resources and facilities for all care in the county. The latest information available from the HSE indicates that it was to temporarily close the day care service at the Plunkett community nursing unit in Boyle from Monday, 8 March. The HSE currently has a number of vacancies in the service and due to the moratorium it is unable to recruit replacement staff. It appreciates that this is an inconvenience for clients of this service but the HSE must have appropriate staffing levels to run any service safely. The service is suspended for a period of three months and the HSE will make every effort to restore it as quickly as possible. In view of the current industrial action, this is the most current information available to me.

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