Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Neart Le Chéile is a community-based organisation that provides two services: Cumas, which supports children and other family members who experience addiction, and Cairdeas, which supports people who are directly in addiction themselves. These are two vital services for some of the most vulnerable people in Clondalkin. Seven workers were put on unofficial protective notice in July of this year. Some of them have over 20 years of service. The workers disclosed that there has been no communication with them since they were served this notice. The staff has been left without proper management and guidance from the board for some time. It is to the credit of the staff that Neart Le Chéile has continued to operate and provide a service to some of the most vulnerable people in my community.

I wrote to both the Minister of Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the HSE over a week ago and I have not received a response yet. Can the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, do everything in her power, and is there any communication she can have directly with the HSE to intervene and keep this vital service open? It is disgraceful that these vulnerable people are being left in the dark.

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