Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Danny Healy-Rae has been raising the issues of home help in Kerry and the Deer Lodge services for people with mental illness for many weeks. An extra €12 million was returned to the fund for the Vision for Change for mental health services. Surely, this would be an opportunity. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae also spoke about the issue of waiting for heart operations in Cork University Hospital. I will bring that issue back to the Minister for Health as it is not under my brief.

In regard to HIQA, as far as I know, the word "visited" in this context means "inspected". I assure Deputy Ó Caoláin that I was not playing word games. When I said all centres will have been visited at least once by 2016, I interpreted that to mean HIQA visiting, monitoring and inspecting the facilities. I will ensure that all the centres are inspected to ensure safety and high quality of standards.

In regard to the figure of 165, I think I misread that. What I meant was that the €20 million which is being spent in different centres throughout the State was being used to take 165 people out of congregated settings and to put them into smaller community-based housing and service schemes. The figure of 165 refers to the particular people involved in those arrangements. I appreciate the Deputy's point but it is important to remember that in the first round of funding, we have prioritised the disability residential services and congregated settings that are in the worst condition. We felt it was important to start with those. However, it is not acceptable to have people still living in them. Part of my project over the next year or two years is to deal with these issues and ensure quality services for people.

We are doing much catching up on investment in services after the past seven or eight years and I accept the points made earlier. I thank Deputies for their support for the Bill. I understand they have concerns, which are shared by many of us, but we will do our best to deliver quality services for all people with physical and intellectual disabilities.

See this speech in context