Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the Deputy's comments, it is true that the Mental Health Commission took a case against the HSE because of the poor conditions in St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny. I have read the background to this. The Deputy very helpfully agreed to let me know the issue he was going to raise this morning. As he said, it is pretty shocking. The HSE's mental health service accepts the serious concerns expressed by the Mental Health Commission and the findings from the legal proceedings. I am assured, however, that remedial works are already under way. The HSE has prioritised the psychiatry facility in Kilkenny for upgrade works valued at in excess of €1 million to bring it up to standard. The investment will address deficiencies identified during inspection processes and will include a comprehensive maintenance programme across the facility to ensure full compliance with regulations set by the Mental Health Commission in respect of privacy and premises. A household supervisor has been appointed and additional household personnel have been allocated to St. Luke's to address the cleaning deficits identified during the inspection of the premises. A training programme has commenced for staff and rules governing the use of seclusion.

Nobody is doubting that the concerns outlined and aired in a legal case by the Mental Health Commission are not serious and need to be addressed but €1 million has been committed to respond.

With regard to south Tipperary, I recognise the work the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, is doing. There are plans to provide a new respite facility in Clonmel to replace Glenville House. A new modular 40-bed unit is being delivered at Clonmel hospital. The question of including psychiatric beds in a 50-bed unit planned for the hospital is also being raised by local public representatives. The Minister of State met Oireachtas Members and various local representatives to discuss current and future provision of mental health services in Tipperary, including a review of bed capacity. He also visited mental health facilities in South Tipperary. Arising from this discussions, he is expecting the HSE to submit a detailed report in the near future, and he will then consider the options available to improve acute capacity in Tipperary.

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