Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

As I do not have direct involvement in this issue, I am very much going on the information provided for me. The ideal is for nobody to be disturbed but the condition of certain units means that people will have to be moved as patients cannot stay in units unfit for purpose. This arises from independent evaluation from HIQA. Such issues will occur and will continue to do so.

I have no reason not to believe the HSE service plan despite the Deputy noting that we are already 41 beds down very early in the year. That had been planned since 2008 and the additional six new wards built on the site will accommodate 150 people. People may be attached to where they live despite the conditions of the unit, which I understand perfectly, but nevertheless the new environment is far better, which we must accept. I have no doubt the figure in the service plan will be adhered to.

I have just come from the Sue Ryder Foundation facility in Dalkey, which is an extraordinary complex dealing with older people who live independently but who are supervised with supports. There are people in our charge who need the type of long-term intensive care that people in nursing homes have; we must deal with them and be conscious of their needs and families. Nevertheless, we must begin to change our processes and leading from this we can speak to the people living in the Sue Ryder complex, for example. The Deputy knows them as well as I do. They are living very happily without the type of intensive medical model that can be seen in other areas. We must start to look at alternatives, including talking about stepping up as opposed to always talking about stepping down.

With regard to facilities like St. Mary's Hospital, the new facility is far superior to the older one; it must be when one considers the age of the building and the needs of older people now as opposed to then.

See this speech in context