Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Tá a fhios agam nach bhfuil an tAire Stáit sa Roinn Sláinte in ann a bheith anseo inniu. Is mór an trua é sin ach tuigim go bhfuil cruinniú aici.

Tá orm an t-ábhar seo a ardú arís agus arís. Bhreathnaigh mé siar ar cé chomh minic is atá sé ardaithe agam agus cuireann sé alltacht orm i ndáiríre go bhfuil mé fós ag caint faoi Áras Mhic Dara i gcroílár na Gaeltachta, ionad lae atá dúnta anois ó am Covid. Tá na cúiseanna taobh thiar den áit a bheith dúnta ag athrú an t-am uilig - easpa foirne, easpa éilimh agus modúl nua. An uair dheireanach, dúirt mé go raibh sé thar a bheith deacair gan a bheith éadóchasach ó thaobh na bhfreagraí atá á fháil againn. Tá mé sa chás ceannann céanna inniu. Ag dul siar cúpla seachtain, bhí cruinniú poiblí i gConamara maidir leis an ábhar seo agus d’fhreastail cúpla céad duine air. Ní raibh na Teachtaí Dála a bhí ann in ann a mhíniú dóibh cén fáth go raibh an t-ionad lae seo fós dúnta. Ní rabhamar in ann agus bhí sé sin an-deacair dúinne mar Theachtaí Dála nuair atá ionad chomh riachtanach leis seo dúnta.

Unfortunately, faraor géar, I must raise the continued closure of the day centre in Connemara. I raised it as a Topical Issue matter a few months ago and previously under Questions on Policy or Legislation. I have raised it everywhere. When I look back, I am sure I am going to get the same answer from the Minister of State today although I really hope not. I know he is in a difficult position and that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, cannot be here today. I had the choice of not taking this Topical Issue matter today but I chose to take because it is so important.

The ongoing closure of the day centre is simply unacceptable. I ask the Minister of State if he could depart from the script if it is no different from the previous script. At some stage, we need human intervention here from Ministers and the Government if the explanations keep changing. We are in the middle of a Gaeltacht area and this is what we are being told by representatives. I have a presentation in my hands - look at the size of this file. We got a wonderful presentation on Zoom and we were told it was going to open in April. April came and went; it was an April Fool, presumably. Then, May came and we were told it was going to open, and they managed to open it for one day and then closed it. They told us there was no demand. We are talking about a day centre for elderly people that everyone attended before Covid-19 . We were told there were not enough staff and then that it was for infection reasons. Then we were told there is a whole new model of social care.

As somebody at the meeting said, they are actually telling elderly people they would want to be able to run the city marathon before they can attend a day centre that is under the social care model because they have to be able to entirely look after themselves, take their medication and so on. That is the social care model, which is not suitable. I have no difficulty with it, but it is not suitable for the people we are talking about. They opened the centre for a day and nobody knew it was open. They did not tell the radio or the newspapers.

We now have a situation where HIQA representatives have visited three times in recent years. The last one gave it a glowing report with regard to the nursing care. Unfortunately, this time and the previous time, they did not even mention the day centre, which is of great concern to me. It is underutilised as well in terms of the bed capacity. It is getting a glowing report from the staff and residents. However, it is underutilised as a nursing home and as a day centre; it is non-existent.

What am I really doing as the end of term approaches? I am appealing to the Minister of State on a human level. I ask that he please not read out a script to me if it is the exact same answer as the last time. I understand his difficulties and that he is standing in for another Minister of State. He might please tell me, in his opinion, whether this is acceptable.

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