David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being here to discuss this important issue. I also acknowledge her personal interest and involvement in this issue since it arose last summer. Last June, the announcement was made that the Owenacurra Centre would close on 31 October and that in the interim all residents, and their families where appropriate, would be consulted. It was also promised that the will and preference of the residents would be paramount when suggestions were made on possible new placements for residents, of which there were 19, although I understand there are 15 now. The reason given for the closure at the time was the building was no longer fit for purpose in that it did not allow for the needs of a modern residential and day service and it had been criticised by the regulator. There were also questions about safety.

One of the families asked me earlier to ask the Minister of State a question. We understand that some works have been carried out at the centre recently. Is she satisfied that these works will enable the residents to stay there safely for the time being and are there plans to carry out other interim works in respect of safety? That is an issue that families and residents are concerned about. I hope she can tell me this evening that she is satisfied that it is safe. We know it is not fit for purpose for reasons of size, scale, design and so forth but can the Minister of State tell me this evening that nobody will be evicted from the centre against his or her will? That would mean that people could relax, engage and wait until a proper placement was proposed to them. It would be helpful for her to tell us that.

I refer to the broader policy on 24-hour staffed residential services. We have been informed that there is an extensive community-based service operating across the local area, including a home-based treatment team in multiple specialist services, which is good. I applaud that because we want to keep people in their homes and communities as far and as long as possible. I understand that a residential type setting is being sought to provide "a supported mode of living locally" and that the site will be used for future mental health services. What is meant by “a supported mode of living locally”? Supported living means people can live but it is not the same as 24-hour staffing. The question arises: what is the future of 24-hour staffed residential services such as those provided by the Owenacurra Centre? These have been described to me as being a type of step-down facility. We know that the kind of supports and services that have been provided there have been exemplary and that people have benefited from them. Could the Minister of State outline Government policy on 24-hour staffed residential services? Recently she told me: "There are no issues with community residences for mental health.” Does that include the type of service provided in the Owenacurra Centre? If this centre closes, will east Cork be the only region in the county of Cork without such a service? Will east Cork have 24-hour residential services into the future?

What are the long-term plans for the site? The HSE stated it is engaging with the local authority about long-term plans to use it for mental health services and so on. The local people value the 24-hour staffed service for a certain number of people who benefit from that. We know that there are other people who would benefit from supported living, that more people would benefit from being at home and that more people want to live in congregated settings and need that kind of support. The Owenacurra Centre is not a congregated setting; it is one of the steps on the way to recovery. Some people have been living there all their lives. These people know the area and they can go in and out of the shops, down the street and so forth and it is their home.

Can the Minister of State confirm that the place is safe and that people can relax as they will not be moved from the centre against their will? What is the policy on 24-hour staffed residential services nationally and in east Cork?

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