Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. On a broader level, it provides me with an opportunity to restate the Government's commitment to children and young people with disabilities, as well as their families.

In the first instance, I wish to state that I visited the facility in April, to which the Deputy alluded. I saw first-hand the hydrotherapy pool lying idle. The service covers the Cavan-Monaghan area. Following inquiries by my officials, the HSE has advised that Enable Ireland commissioned completion of the hydrotherapy pool in 2018. At that time, it secured some funding for a pool attendant. The pool attendant was there for about six months, and after that we ran into the debacle with Covid. The pool lay idle in 2019, 2020, 2021 and into 2022.

The Deputy used the term "gobsmacked". I was equally as gobsmacked because I see the value of the hydrotherapy pool in Holy Angels in Carlow, which is used continuously. It is not just used for young people who are listed as having disabilities; it is also open to the wider public in the evenings and at weekends. On another level, it is available for players recovering from various injuries. We do not need to rely on the National Rehabilitation Hospital when facilities are available in local areas.

With regard to the opening of the facility, Enable Ireland has submitted a business case to the HSE, which is currently going through the assessment process. It is seeking pay costs for a full pool attendant and non-pay running costs. I understand the figures break down to approximately €50,000 to pay a pool attendant and €10,000 for running costs. In terms of the overall health budget, in particular that part relating to disability, given the value of hydrotherapy for young people and older persons, a figure of €50,000 seems to be very good value for money. We also need to look outside the box in how we deliver therapies. It is not just about going into a room and doing one-to-one work. There are other ways of delivering therapies. As a passionate swimmer, I believe in the role of hydrotherapy. I also believe in the role of rehabilitation.

At local management level, the HSE has advised that it will seek funding in 2023. In terms of cost related savings, it should look to see what is available at this moment in time. We should not wait until 2023 to paint walls or put water back into the pool. We should do work on a trial basis to get the facility up running, determine the appetite for the service and create awareness. If there are other hydrotherapy pools and facilities used by the HSE, I ask the wider public to make me aware of that. A pool lying idle is not serving the people of Cavan-Monaghan or the rest of CHO 1.. We walked into the room by accident. It was not part of the visit; I just happened to ask about a wing in the facility. To have the pool lying idle is wilful neglect of the people of the area.

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