Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It was a shock to the staff in the complex to hear the units were being closed and a double shock to the families and those residents who have any understanding - and some of them do not - of what is ahead of them. Some of the residents have been there for 20 years. They are well cared for. There is absolutely no question about their care. It is one of the care centres in the area where people want to go, which is a good sign.

Nobody is taking issue with HIQA stating there is a health and safety issue. We are not experts in fire control. However, there is alternative accommodation on site that could be fixed up a lot faster than a year. We are speaking about moving patients out of the comfort of where they have been for 20 years to another site. Some of these people have very complex needs. Some people are bipolar and others have Alzheimer's disease. There are also people with other issues.

There is a range of questions. Can this be delayed? Can works be done on other empty buildings on site, which could accelerate the time it will take? Can remedial measures be taken initially? There has been discussion about uneven floors but the HIQA report suggests things are a lot worse.

The families have been asking questions. How much access will they have to this private facility? Will they have the same access as they do now? Everybody knows when they work with a HSE centre that the staff will bend over backwards and do everything they can so that people can visit their loved ones. This is not the same in most private centres that I know of.

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