Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for raising this important issue. A key principle underpinning Government policy is to support older people to live in their own home with dignity and independence for as long as possible. In recent years, there has been a shift in the focus of healthcare provision towards home care. Home support services are key in facilitating older people to remain at home and with our ageing population will become increasingly important. There will, of course, always be people whose needs are best met in a residential care setting or other supported housing model such as the services provided at St. Mary's nursing home and supported housing in Telford.

The relevant Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is aware of the difficult decision to close taken by the board of management of St. Mary's, which is owned by the Sisters of Charity. On 23 July, the HSE was advised that St. Mary's Centre (Telford) Limited was placed in voluntary provisional liquidation by order of the High Court at the request of its board of directors. The HSE advised that this was not an expected or anticipated action and was contrary to what the board of management had been advising the HSE up to the previous week. Provisional liquidators were appointed and they contacted the HSE regarding client and staff welfare on 27 July. It is understood that HIQA was also aware of this issue. At the time, there were 19 nursing home clients and 22 disability clients in residence at the centre.

The HSE has notified the Department that, as of 8 September, there were 22 residents remaining within the service, three persons resident in Loyola House and 19 remaining within the disability independent-living unit and apartments. The HSE is working closely with the provisional liquidators and HIQA to ensure all remaining clients are adequately and appropriately cared for until the High Court deliberates further on the application to liquidate the company by its board of directors.

At the High Court hearing on 8 September, an application was made on behalf of a group of employees, former employees, residents and their families to consider putting the company into examinership. This matter is due to be heard on 23 September.

The HSE remains conscious of the vulnerability of the residents at the centre and of the anxiety and stress this set of circumstances has caused for them and their families and that, through ongoing further engagement, it is hoped that such anxiety and stress can be substantially alleviated. The HSE is continuing to fund the provisional liquidators to enable care provision to be maintained for the remaining clients at the centre.

The HSE has also engaged on site, effective from Thursday, 3 September last, to review the service and is committed to supporting services provision and to assistance in respect of client care at the request of the provisional liquidators, who are legally fulfilling the role of provider at this point. An independent advocacy service is currently being utilised where residents require and consent to such representation or assistance.

I heard the Deputy's frustration over the fear and anxiety of the workers and patients. He has asked the Government to step in. I understand the HSE has engaged with the INMO regarding the staff at St. Mary's. As the staff are not HSE employees, the matter of redundancy is for the liquidator to deal with.

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