Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am replying to this Topical Issue on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, and I thank Deputy Lyons for raising this important matter.

The Deputy will appreciate that the HSE has statutory and operational responsibility for the planning and delivery of services at local level. North Dublin mental health services provide a range of adult mental health services within the specialties of general psychiatric, psychiatry of old age and a rehabilitation psychiatry service. This encompasses various settings such as service user homes, acute inpatient facilities, day hospitals, day centres and supported community residences. The service the Deputy refers to, which is community based with a focus on recovery principles, is delivered by consultant-led multi-disciplinary teams incorporating staff from a range of disciplines, including nursing, social work, occupational health and psychology.

The Deputy is correct that in 2013 the HSE, as part of the Dublin north city mental health service plan, identified the need to review all day centres within the area in line with A Vision for Change. A review group was established by the Dublin north city mental health management team with the following remit - to identify all mental health day centres in Dublin north city, general adult psychiatry; to review services provided within each day centre; to make recommendations, if required, to ensure that each day centre was fulfilling its brief; and, examine if clients' needs could be met in a more appropriate environment.

In the case of Tús Nua, the review group found that the day centre, which is situated on the upper floor of Ballymun shopping centre, was old and in poor condition, with only one fire exit from the building. There is no lift access and the shutters on the front window cannot be opened due to security concerns. Having considered all the issues, the review group recommended to the Dublin north city mental health management team that it would be best in the circumstances to close the Tús Nua facility. It should be further added that the lease on these premises has expired and, due to the regeneration plan for Ballymun, it cannot be renewed. In addition, the need to vacate the Ballymun shopping centre to allow the regeneration plan to proceed has left this service in a vulnerable position, and the HSE management cannot safely recommend the service continue.

I understand that the HSE is to establish an implementation group under the chairmanship of the clinical director and that an independent assessment of the needs of those attending the centre will be carried out. This assessment of needs will inform the process going forward and will ensure that the needs of service users, which is the main preoccupation of Deputy Lyons, continue to be met. The implementation group, as part of its remit, will communicate with all the relevant stakeholders during this period of change. I can assure the Deputy it is not the intention of the Dublin north city mental health management team to close this facility until the process of consultation with all relevant stakeholders is complete and appropriate alternative placements have been sourced.

Any changes that arise as part of this process will be communicated to patients and staff in advance of any change taking place. Accordingly, I would like to assure the Deputy that the HSE will, at all times, put the needs of service users to the fore in the relocation of this service.

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