Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Eugene Murphy for this important question on Roscommon community mental health services, the reason for their transfer to County Galway and plans for the replacement of these positions.

Community healthcare west has confirmed to me that three senior clinicians in the Roscommon area are in the process of leaving their roles. They are leaving to pursue career opportunities elsewhere in the mental health service of community healthcare west. The three clinicians, a consultant psychiatrist, an area director of nursing and a senior nurse, worked in the adult mental health services and are expected to move to their new posts by the beginning of June 2019. There is currently a process in place to offer the consultant post to candidates on a national panel established for the filling of consultant psychiatrist posts. In the interim, a locum consultant psychiatrist will be engaged. A community nurse manager in the area will take on the role as acting director of nursing until a permanent replacement can be recruited. Nursing management in Roscommon is currently in the process of filling the acting director of nursing and senior nurse positions on a permanent basis.

The Deputy's question was asking me whether the staff were moving from Roscommon to Galway and not being replaced. I am pleased to inform Deputy Eugene Murphy that is not the case. The case is that for individual personal and career reasons, staff have decided to take up job opportunities elsewhere, as is their right, and we wish them well. It is the HSE's active intention to fill those posts, and we will fill the consultant post on an interim basis with a locum consultant. There will be a process in place to fill the post permanently, and we will see the permanent filling of the acting director of nursing and senior nurse positions. Let me assure the Deputy of the HSE's and my own commitment to recruiting these staff. My Department has requested regular updates as part of this process, and I would be happy to share them with Deputy Eugene Murphy and keep in touch with him in this regard.

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