Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)

I have taken on board the points made by the Minister. A group has been set up comprising existing clinic personnel. I note there is no service user in that group to discuss how it impacts on service users or any change in the seamless transition.

I make the same appeal as Deputy Ó Snodaigh. A number of people use the service in Ballyfermot and the local area office is located there. There is a cohesiveness in Ballyfermot in terms of the service it gives in the community. I appeal to the Minister to keep the centre open until everything is addressed, including the concerns of the service users. It was pointed out to me that most general practitioners, GPs, will not see drugs clients after 9 a.m. That is a change from having a service in place to give the person 100% support, with all the facilities on the campus. To be put into a situation under a GP is a retrograde step for the people concerned. I ask the Minister to keep the centre open until another site is found for it. Units 4 and 5 would appear to be ideal.

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