Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his ten minutes this morning. This is black and white. What I want to raise probably goes back to late June of last year with the closure of the Owenacurra health centre in Midleton and the short-term and long-term respite beds.

I want to raise the fact that even when that centre was open pre-Covid and we had the short-term beds, on average, approximately 208 people per year used those two separate beds. That obviously closed with Covid-19. Since we have come out of the pandemic, however, there is actually a waiting list. There was an additional waiting list of 26 people looking for those services on those two short-term respite beds. Obviously, the centre is not taking in any more patients nor is it taking any short-term respite patients.

The big issue here, of which I am sure the Minister of State is well aware, is that the HSE has repeatedly been spinning news that buildings are not fit for purpose.

It says there are only so many residents in the centre and that, once they have gone, it will not be needed. From my research and work, even in recent weeks, I can see we are going to lose the service for the 200-plus people a year on the short-term respite alone and the services that come with that, such as blood tests, chiropody and dental services. They are all going to go.

I appeal to the Government and the Minister of State to instruct the HSE to revisit the Owenacurra centre. I had been informed about this issue yesterday morning, but in the evening I received a phone call from a person who had needed that service last Saturday. When I spoke to that person, it made me both angry and sad. They had driven their car to the Owenacurra centre last Saturday night and approached the centre. It is up and running for the 11 residents who are there at the moment but, unfortunately, the centre could not assist the person, who told me they ended up sleeping in their car. They were awoken by a young garda at 7 o'clock on the Sunday morning. They went on to tell me they were experiencing so much anxiety that they got sick into a bag and put the bag into the boot of the car. That is only one incident and, in fairness to the individual, they had the bravery to ring me and tell me I could relay their story because they needed the help. Families have been affected since this issue broke in late June. There are now families who have family members in that centre who are not talking any more, whether because of misinformation, coercion or whatever. Residents have been told another centre is better, even though the family know it is not, and things break down.

Having spoken to staff at the centre, I know families are still ringing them and crying down the phone, asking whether they can get one of their family members into the centre. The centre covers a population of roughly 94,000 people in east Cork. I accept the HSE has indicated people can go to other centres, but the other centres are in Skibbereen, Kanturk or Sarsfield Court. I visited Sarsfield Court with the HSE four weeks ago. Its compliance test received a lower score than the Owenacurra centre, and that was only four weeks ago. The Owenacurra centre might not be fit for purpose, but the services have to remain in east Cork and the town of Midleton. I appeal, therefore, to the Minister of State to ask the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and the Government to revisit the Owenacurra centre and to keep the services in Midleton.

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