Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am also very concerned about the situation at the Camphill community at Ballytobin, near Callan, County Kilkenny. I thank my colleague, Deputy Bobby Aylward, for giving me an opportunity to speak about the matter. As he said, this unique community which is located in a wonderful non-medical environment provides community-based services for residents with challenging behaviours who are in the medium to profound category of disability. Fantastic relationships have been built between residents, staff and family members. The Minister for Health and the HSE need to find a new service provider as a matter of extreme urgency in order that the issues raised by HIQA can be rectified. We cannot fail the many residents of the Camphill community in Ballytobin, including one of my constituents, Caroline, who has called it home for the last 17 years. In the light of the unique setting of this unique community, we would certainly like to protect this model to help the most vulnerable people in the country. There are 19 adults at risk of losing what has essentially been their home for up to 43 years in some cases. As I said, this community setting works. As parents have testified, residents will not enjoy the fullness of life they currently enjoy if this unique community is not allowed to continue. I can give the Minister of State evidence of this, if he so wishes.

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