Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Thankfully, I came down earlier than I had expected to, otherwise there could have been another mishap. I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for the opportunity to raise this issue. The situation at Toghermore House, Tuam, County Galway, has been raised as a Topical Issue before. It is a 24-hour mental health facility on the site of other mental health facilities, including a day hospital. An issue arose towards the end of last year, around 21 December, whereby a decision was made by the HSE to close the 24-hour facility due to what the HSE claimed were fire safety reasons.

A good deal of campaigning took place on the issue and, as it turned out, towards the end of January following ministerial pressure the money was set to be allocated for the facility to remain open. It is important to understand that this facility received a grant of almost €1.4 million between 2010 and 2011 for upgrading. When the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Lynch, visited the facility in 2011 she stated, "The development of this integrated campus at Toghermore brings together a range of mental health services which will undoubtedly have a hugely beneficial effect, not only on the lives of the patients, but also on the lives of their families and friends." Anyone reading that statement would have a clear understanding that Toghermore House, a 24-hour facility, is a cornerstone of mental health services in Galway and Roscommon. One can imagine the anger that many people felt when they learned this facility was going to be closed.

At the end of January the facility was kept open due to ministerial pressure. In the intervening two months money was set to have been allocated to carry out the necessary fire safety works. What money has been allocated for those works? What was the total figure required? When will these works be carried out? When will the premises be up to the required safety standards such that it can start to take in patients once again? In the past two months figures of €250,000, €300,000, €360,000 and €500,000 have been mentioned as necessary to do up Toghermore House. This is a farcical situation and although I understand how important fire safety is, it is ridiculous that this could close the facility.

Some €1.4 million was put into it, but we cannot get an estimate of the amount needed to keep it upgraded.

I understand the decision on Toghermore House will be made in the context of a review of all mental health services and 24 hour facilities in counties Galway and Roscommon. I would like to know who is on the review board and will be supplying the information. There is concern that HSE West has not been completely upfront with patients and their families or the staff of Toghermore House. When is the review due to begin? Who will undertake it? How long will it take and what are its terms of reference? We have not seen openness or transparency in the past three months.

Many of the people who use this service are in vulnerable circumstances and the continued uncertainty about the future of the facility does not help. A report was prepared only two months ago on the people concerned and the problems they were facing owing to rumours about the closure. It described one individual as becoming unstable and distressed on finding out about a potential move. Another patient was described as stable for many years in a low support facility, but the report noted that most of the hostel's residents had poor coping skills and expressed concern about the clinical risks that could arise if they were relocated.

These concerns must be addressed. Toghermore House should be maintained as a cornerstone of A Vision for Change and mental health services in Tuam. The people of Tuam and north Galway will not accept anything less. The State cannot be allowed to close a facility in which it invested €1.4 million only a few years ago. I ask the Minister, Deputy James Reilly, or the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, take a hands-on approach to receiving confirmation that the money was spent properly.

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