Dáil debates

Tuesday, 14 February 2006

Adjournment Debate.

Services for People with Disabilities.

8:00 pm

Photo of Peter PowerPeter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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My matter is a call for the Health Service Executive to initiate an immediate investigation into the reasons a custom built, modern, six unit facility at St. Vincent's residential centre, Lisnagry, County Limerick, at a cost of €4.25 million, has not been fully opened, to examine the reason half of the units have yet to be properly staffed over two years since the unit was completed at a cost of €4.25 million and, furthermore, to initiate appropriate, immediate steps to have the facility fully and properly staffed as a matter of urgency.

The facts surrounding this matter are frustrating and disturbing. They are frustrating because it has been impossible to get answers to the questions as to why this situation has arisen in St. Vincent's in Lisnagry, Limerick. They are disturbing because the financial planning for this unit appears to have been non-existent.

The history behind what has happened is that in January 2004, a state-of-the-art, six unit residential complex, custom built to cater for young Limerick people with moderate to severe intellectual disability, was completed at the Daughters of Charity, St. Vincent's, Lisnagry, at a cost of €4.25 million. Over two years later, 50% of that unit remains closed. Tonight, the Health Service Executive, stands indicted for failing to provide the staff and properly operate and commission this vital facility for young people in Limerick.

I want to find out exactly how this situation could have arisen and to get definite answers that this will not be allowed to continue. The children who should have been accommodated in this modern facility are tonight languishing in substandard facilities, cared for by the dedicated Daughters of Charity staff who look out the window and only yards away see a state of the art modern facility custom built to cater for their challenging needs. They ask how this could have arisen in an era of unprecedented resources. Many of the boys with challenging needs are currently accommodated in a larger nearby facility which is totally unsuited for their needs while this new, modern, custom built facility is not fully opened right beside them. This flagship project, backed by the best available expertise, is regrettably deteriorating before our eyes for want of a commitment from the HSE to properly commission, staff and finance it.

Mental institutions here have been closed because the system of care was repressive. Locked wards have no place in the treatment of persons with learning disabilities. The Daughters of Charity at St. Vincent's in Limerick have developed an effective, holistic treatment for their patients and for young people. Nurse members of the Daughters of Charity are professionally trained to administer this new holistic approach but, unfortunately, a new facility remains unopened. That raises serious questions as to the reason the development was given the go-ahead when proper funding for fully commissioning and staffing was not in place. No reasons have been given as to how this situation has arisen and no firm commitments are in place to fully open a unit which is so badly needed for young Limerick people. I hope my raising this matter will result in definite answers as to how this has arisen and a definite commitment that it will not continue.

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I thank Deputy Power for raising this matter. I am pleased to have this opportunity to clarify some of the background and context in regard to the new six unit residential complex at St. Vincent's, Lisnagry, County Limerick which has been developed by the Daughters of Charity.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes the responsibility for the provision and funding of new or enhanced levels of health and personal social services.

The HSE has informed me that it is well established practice that all proposals for service development and enhancement for persons with intellectual disability must be submitted to the local consultative and development committees in the first instance. These committees consider all proposals made and in turn advise the HSE on the service priorities for each region.

The HSE states that no advance proposals in respect of this development at Lisnagry were submitted to its committees. The HSE further states that, subsequent to the developments being completed, the HSE was informed by the Daughters of Charity that the running cost of these services would require €1.75 million revenue each year.

The HSE is committed to the partnership framework of consultative and development committees outlined above, which can only progress new developments or enhancements consistent with national policy and in line with identified priorities and available funding. Currently, prioritisation is towards persons with a disability who are without a service and who urgently require a residential place.

The HSE states it will continue to work collaboratively with the consultative and development committees so as to maximise the funding options for the development at Lisnagry.

Deputy Power will be aware that as part of a multi-annual investment programme 2006-09, additional funding amounting to €51.5 million is being provided by this Government in 2006 to meet costs associated with the following elements of this programme in respect of services to persons with intellectual disability and those with autism: 255 new residential places, 85 new respite places, 535 new day places this year and the continuation of the implementation of the transfer of persons with intellectual disability or autism from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements.

In addition to the specific high profile disability services which are included in the programme outlined above, additional funding of €22.5 million is being provided to enhance the multidisciplinary support services for people with disabilities in line with the Government's commitment to build capacity within the health services to deliver on the various legislative provisions contained in the national disability strategy.

Furthermore, €12.5 million is being provided to enhance the level and range of multidisciplinary support services available to adults and children with intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities and those with autism, with a priority in 2006 of enhancing the assessment and support services for children with disabilities.