Dáil debates

Tuesday, 2 July 2019

Mental Health Services Reports: Motion [Private Members]

 

8:30 pm

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

I have been working for some time with my colleagues to bring a motion like this to the House. Both Ministers of State, Deputies Catherine Byrne and Jim Daly, have answered questions in the House on more than one occasion in respect of the Rosalie unit in Castlerea, County Roscommon. I am glad that the motion states it is necessary to respect the wishes of the services users and their families and carers in facilities such as the Rosalie community psychiatric unit. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, will know from answering parliamentary questions that people in this unit are mildly mentally handicapped. They are mainly old and they have been there for many years. I acknowledge the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, who has come down and has met us. We have had many a hard battle with him but he is a listener and he does try to help. There are 11 people left in that centre, which initially had 33. It has been made clear to us that the centre is closing and a new service will start up. However, throughout this process, families have been forced into a situation that they do not accept.

It is a beautiful building, as the Minister of State knows. It is not a dilapidated building and it is not a condemned building. It has been the home of these people for many years. Despite the best efforts of the politicians and the families, we find that the HSE did not take into account the state of the people, who are vulnerable and need assistance. The Ministers of State will say the clinicians are the people who know and we cannot contradict them but this motion asserts that in such situations, we must have a better way of doing things. I believe the Minister of State acknowledges that point. I will always make the case that it is our job to come into this Chamber to stand up for those who are vulnerable. In similar future situations, I hope we have to look after people in places such as the Rosalie centre. I request that the Minister of State allow the 11 people who are still there to live out the rest of their lives there. They are older people and their families are very happy to have them stay there.

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