Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Keltoi rehabilitation unit was closed in March 2020. We were promised at the time that it was a temporary closure due to Covid-19. It is still closed today. Why? There are serious issues with addressing dual diagnosis in this State. Addiction is often caused by trauma, but so too are serious mental health difficulties. When they are presented together, people often have nowhere to turn. Keltoi is a one-of-a-kind facility that has helped people in these situations. It must be reopened now. There were warnings that the closure of the unit would have profound consequences. Has the Minister of State reviewed the impacts of this closure?

There were established care pathways and clear benefits from the involvement of the unit in these pathways. We should be opening more units like Keltoi. We need more trauma centre facilities that provide wraparound services and have high success rates. We need more facilities that are run by the State. That is what Deputy Ward and I should be asking for today. Instead, once again, we are forced to raise the dire need to reopen the Keltoi unit, the only residential facility in the State.

The Keltoi staff have been redeployed, many to roles where they are no longer required. They are ready to work and want to return to work. The services that engage with Keltoi want the unit to reopen. What is the obstacle to this issue being resolved? Why can it not be sorted? People are crying out for help, especially those with addiction and mental health issues. The Government is failing them as a result of the continued closure of the Keltoi unit. When will it be reopened?

See this speech in context