Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes, a minute of the opening statement and a minute of the reply.

The Minister of State is welcome to the House and I thank him for his attendance. However, I wish to put on public record that the Taoiseach failed to answer a question on this matter yesterday and instead again sent in the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, to bat, while the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, has failed to come to the House to deal with this crucial issue.

Last Friday myself and fellow Oireachtas representatives of the Roscommon-Galway constituency met Mr. Tony Canavan of the HSE in Roscommon town. At that meeting, it was indicated to us that the Rosalie centre in Castlerea is soon to close, in spite of the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, previously indicating that no such decision would be made until clinical assessments had been reviewed. My Oireachtas colleague and Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, issued a statement in June which indicated that the HSE had confirmed that the Rosalie facility will continue to form part of the service delivery of healthcare in the Roscommon area and that any potential change of its use would take place in consultation with public representatives and relevant stakeholders in the area. Where is the consultation? Have the clinical assessments been reviewed? We have been repeatedly stonewalled by the HSE and the Minister, Deputy Harris, in regard to this unit in Castlerea.

I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, to pass on to the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Taoiseach the message that this issue is not going to go away. Major plans are currently being put in place for a public meeting in Casltlerea next Monday night which will probably attract 500 people who will send a clear message about the Rosalie unit. Neither the people of Castlerea nor I, as one of their public representatives, will let this issue rest.

County Roscommon has one of the highest percentages of older people in the country and one of the highest rates of Alzheimer’s disease per head of population. As such, the Rosalie unit should be a vital part of our mental health services in the county. Most of the residents of the Rosalie unit suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and they are unsettled about their future. They have told me that they are upset and worried. It is totally unfair and unacceptable. This matter is not going away. Deputy Penrose knows Castlerea well but I wish to explain to Deputy Ferris and other Deputies who may not be familiar with the Rosalie unit that it is not a broken down centre but rather a fantastic unit which provides excellent care and has very good staff. Its residents are happy there but that happiness is being taken away.

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