Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Eugene Murphy and Mary Butler for the opportunity to provide some clarity, background and context on this issue. I wish to highlight that this Topical Issue refers to the announced closure by the Government and the HSE of the Rosalie unit. I can state with complete authority on behalf of the Government that no closure of Roasalie has been announced by the Government or the HSE. The Rosalie unit, part of Áras Naomh Chaolain, is located in Castlerea, County Roscommon. As Deputy Murphy knows, I am very familiar with it. I have visited it and met each of the residents, their families and the management of the facility. I have met the relevant public representatives on numerous occasions on the issue.

Currently, there are 12 residents in the unit. I place on the record that the HSE has not announced the closure of the Rosalie unit and I hope that point will sink in. The unit has been closed to new admissions since 27 September 2016. The issues of continuing to best meet the needs of the residents in an appropriate and safe environment and the future use of the unit have been the subject of recent meetings by me with Oireachtas Members, local representatives and the HSE.

To ensure the best interests of the residents are accommodated the HSE recently completed a clinical assessment of each resident, including engagement with families. Following completion of the clinical assessment process, the HSE asked the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland to independently review the process and outcome. This should be completed within a short time. The HSE will then inform me of the outcome of the clinical assessment process regarding best care options for residents and furnish a report on the Rosalie unit.

No decision has been taken yet by the HSE on the future of the Rosalie unit. The HSE chief officer has confirmed in writing to me that it is the intention that it continue as a healthcare facility in the future. The nature of this, whether continued use in its present form or some other use, will be informed by the clinical assessment outcome. The HSE has confirmed that any changes to mental health services in the area will be in line with A Vision for Change.

I understand the chief officer of community healthcare organisation, CHO, 2, which covers the Roscommon area, recently met local representatives and spoke to the local media. He indicated the intention of the HSE to cease services at St. Joseph's mental health day centre in Ballaghaderreen. I further understand that decision has been taken in the context of implementing the recommendations of the report of the mental health services in Roscommon. The decision to close this centre and provide alternative day services to the current attendees was taken only after detailed consideration of the needs of all of the individuals involved.

I reiterate that no decision has yet been taken in respect of the Rosalie unit. I await receipt in due course from the HSE of the outcome of the clinical assessment process for the unit. That will help inform the best care options for the residents and its future use as a healthcare facility.

To make it abundantly clear to the Deputies opposite and to those who are watching this debate who have an interest in this facility, admissions to the unit ceased two years ago, in September 2016. There are 12 residents remaining. As Minister of State with responsibility for the areas of both mental health and older people, I have to ensure the residents' needs are best met. If a qualified clinician tells me that their needs are best met in an alternative setting because this is a psychiatric setting, the patients are older, the needs of many of them are geriatric and they may need to be in a social care nursing home type setting where they will be better served, I have to listen to that. I cannot railroad through a decision. However, my commitment, one on which I have been consistent, is that the unit will continue to play a vital role in the provision of services in the Roscommon area. There is no talk from the Government or the HSE of closure.

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