Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I wish to share two minutes of my time with Deputy Michael Conaghan. I do so because the issue I raise is not party political in nature. All public representatives in the Dublin South-Central constituency, especially those who represent the Ballyfermot area, share the same view on it.

The Aisling Clinic is one of the oldest drug treatment clinics in Dublin and the second largest such clinic in the city. Some 120 people avail of its services daily and 150 people attend on a weekly basis. While the service provided is second to none, it is somewhat chaotic because the building in which it is located has never been fit for purpose. For this reason, no one will demand that the clinic be kept open forever. However, we demand that a service be provided in the catchment area of Ballyfermot, which has one of the largest heroin problems in the country. An alternative site in the area has not been offered.

At a meeting last week, public representatives and some of the service users were informed that two centres in the Cherry Orchard Hospital complex would be more than suitable to be exchanged for the Aisling Clinic. Such an exchange would allow a vital service to be maintained in the community and adjacent to a new mental health centre located on the hospital site. Further, a new primary care health centre is due to be transferred to the site. It would be logical, therefore, to retain all services on one site. We must also ensure those who use the clinic's drug treatment services remain free from harm. Many of them are concerned that trouble may occur if the service is transferred to Clondalkin or the south inner city where some of them have clashed with people using the local services. It is also possible that some users may disengage from drug treatment. I appeal to the Minister of State to review the proposal to close the Aisling Clinic in March and consider using alternative sites on the Cherry Orchard Hospital complex. I ask that some of my time be given to Deputy Conaghan.

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