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

I thank the Minister of State for her very positive response, particularly her assurance that residents will not be moved "until appropriate placements have been found for each person based on their individual assessed needs, will and preference." That means that no pressure will be put on people and they will have to agree before they move to location X, Y or Z. That is hugely important and will be of great relief to the residents and their families.

I ask the Minister of State to explain what she means by building "supported living accommodation for mental health service users". I want to go back to the second part of my question this evening which is in respect of a 24-hour staffed service. I envisage a stepped service involving places like St. Stephen's, from which people can move down to somewhere like Midleton where there is a 24-hour staffed service, then there is the supported living which may not be a 24-hour staffed service and finally, care in the community and at home. They are all important but I would like the Minister of State to elaborate on the 24-hour staffed service. There is only one such service in east Cork which serves Youghal, Midleton, Cobh and right up to Glenville. It is a huge area. There are four such services in north Cork and there are others in west Cork and across the country. These services are 24-hour staffed, with people living in their homes but if they need support any time of the day or night, it is there for them. The policy, which is the Minister of State's responsibility, is what I want to tease out this evening. What is Government policy around this? Is it the intention of the HSE that such a service will be provided in east Cork? I would like to see a small centre in Youghal, another in Midleton and one in Cobh but there must be at least one such service in east Cork. This comes back to the question as to whether this service is required. Is a 24-hour staffed service part of the overall plan? It could be described as supported living but a bit more intensive than what the Minister of State described in her earlier response.

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