John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this very important issue on the Adjournment debate. Áras Attracta in Swinford, County Mayo, was set up 22 years ago and has 116 residents. Over the years the staff have been dedicated and caring and have provided a wonderful service to their clients. This has always been reassuring to their families and loved ones, but developments and cutbacks in recent years have caused concern and changed the picture.

The residents live in bungalows in Áras Attracta - up to ten in each bungalow. This has increased from seven or eight in the past. This means that the set of standards of the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, of having an individual bedroom for each client is being breached. In March 2009, bungalow No. 10 closed which increased the numbers to a maximum of ten in four of the other bungalows. Now it is proposed to close bungalow No. 8 in Áras Attracta which will cause further upset and discommode the residents who cannot speak up for themselves. We are talking about residents who find it very difficult to cope with a new setting in their lives. They have become comfortable and secure with their friends over the years. It is very unfair to upset their routine and the care to which they have become accustomed and with which they are comfortable.

The HIQA standards state the individual should have an area of personal space that comprises his or her own personal possessions, thoughts and feelings upon which no other person intrudes without his or express permission. If this bungalow closes, leading to an increased number in the other bungalows, then it will be impossible to maintain that standard.

As well as the increase in numbers in each bungalow, leading to more residents with shared bedrooms, there are further impacts to this decision. Clients with behavioural problems will now live with clients with challenging behavioural problems. Clients with mild disabilities will live with those who have profound disabilities. The same number of clients will be cared for with fewer staff and overcrowded day rooms will increase. Client activities, recreation and stimulation will decrease as staff will not be able to manage increased numbers. There will be increased demand for a decreasing level of bath, shower and toilet facilities because of the closure of the bungalow.

Everyone accepts savings must be made where possible, but theseshould not impact on the safety, security or care of the most vulnerable in our society. It will be very difficult under the new arrangement to maintain the quality of service that has existed until now. Another worrying aspect of this proposed closure is that HIQA's own standards and regulations are being breached, but there has never been an inspection of an intellectual disability service in Ireland. The standards are set but are not implemented nor the facilities to which they apply inspected. This has led to horrendous consequences elsewhere in the health service and the same mistakes should not continue to be made here.

I have an e-mail in my possession from a staff nurse who is currently off work because of an assault that took place because she was working with staff shortages. If the closure of this bungalow goes ahead, it will have serious consequences for the residents and for the safety of the staff. I appeal to the Minister and the HSE to reverse this decision immediately.

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