Martin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On Saturday, I visited St. Mary of the Angels along with Councillor Damian Quigg. We met the residents and staff there. Currently, there are 76 residents in St. Mary of the Angels and 16 residents are affected as they are housed in two places, the St. Brendan and St. Fidelis units, which hold nine and seven residents, respectively. This is a response to a HIQA report and St. John of God services being non-compliant with two living conditions elements. Apparently, the St. John of God service position is that there should be consultation and agreement with the HSE to set up a national task force to progress decongregation, with St. Mary of the Angels as a national pilot site. St. Fidelis is top priority and the plan was drawn up in agreement with the HSE.

This has caused consternation with some of the residents and their families. Some of the parents have already been contacted by St. Mary of the Angels about a proposed move for their children to various sites in communities around Kerry. Some have been told that the names of their sons and daughters are on the list for council houses. None of the parents would disagree with allowing residents not totally dependent on others leaving if they could move into the community. That is a given. Many of the residents have been there a long time and some have been there for as many as 29 years. It is their home away from home and they are used to the service. It is an excellent service and I would like the Minister of State to visit and see it for himself if he had the opportunity.

The service includes a general practitioner who visits the centre each week and an out-of-hours GP service. There are regular medical assessments, on-site services, allied health specialist services and speech and language and occupational therapy. There is also massage, music therapy and physiotherapy, along with a hydrotherapy pool, special sensory rooms and heated water beds. It is a fantastic service for Kerry and beyond. I hope what we are hearing is not true. With a bit of investment from the Government for the St. Fidelis and St. Brendan centres, we could resolve the issue.

See this speech in context