Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's alarm. Only last week, officials from the Minister's Department telephoned my office seeking the report. It is a source of great concern that the consistency with the Minister's alarm, with respect to the officials in the Department, would raise some questions in light of the fact that somebody from the Opposition benches had to be contacted to identify the report to which I have referred. Of the two audits, one was involved in a community mental health service where there are some particularly startling details. Fewer than 25% of the incidents involved in the investigation were notified in accordance with the law and half of the incidents investigated did not provide for a review with respect to the deaths involved. The standard review was performed but, largely, there is no standardised approach within the service. Also there is no evidence to suggest that an operational plan was developed, subsequent to establishing an investigation, around what had been identified in the investigation was provided for within that centre. Will the Minister comment on the fact that we have had 18 recommendations since January? What actions has he taken with respect to the two audits? I would be alarmed if this report only came to his attention last week.

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