Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will ensure the Deputy gets a reply to that letter. As he will be aware, the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, recently published a report into Rath na nÓg high support unit outlining serious concerns. As I have said previously, Gordon Jeyes, the HSE's national director for children and family services, had met HIQA officials in September and had discussed the report with them. He informed them of his intention to close the unit by the end of October. The HSE has confirmed to me, as the Deputy will be aware, that the unit is closed.

I was very concerned to learn of the risk to the safety of children in the unit and I welcome the decisive move by the HSE to close Rath na nÓg. As the Deputy said, the HSE has advised me that the premises and resources at Rath na nÓg, Castleblayney, County Monaghan, are being redesignated to provide services as a centre for children, a child well-being centre, where they will receive supports. It will provide specialist, time-limited intervention to children within the catchment area in conjunction with local social work services under the auspices of the children and family services area manager. I hope this community resource will be of great benefit to children and families in the local area.

As I have publicly announced, the HSE has advised me that it is undertaking a national review of all residential care which will result in a reconfiguring of high support and special care units to meet the demand for special care. That review will be completed in the first quarter of 2014.

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