John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this very important issue on the Adjournment debate. Áras Attracta in Swinford, County Mayo, was set up 22 years ago and has 116 residents. Over the years the staff have been dedicated and caring and have provided a wonderful service to their clients. This has always been reassuring to their families and loved ones, but developments and cutbacks in recent years have caused concern and changed the picture.

The residents live in bungalows in Áras Attracta - up to ten in each bungalow. This has increased from seven or eight in the past. This means that the set of standards of the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, of having an individual bedroom for each client is being breached. In March 2009, bungalow No. 10 closed which increased the numbers to a maximum of ten in four of the other bungalows. Now it is proposed to close bungalow No. 8 in Áras Attracta which will cause further upset and discommode the residents who cannot speak up for themselves. We are talking about residents who find it very difficult to cope with a new setting in their lives. They have become comfortable and secure with their friends over the years. It is very unfair to upset their routine and the care to which they have become accustomed and with which they are comfortable.

The HIQA standards state the individual should have an area of personal space that comprises his or her own personal possessions, thoughts and feelings upon which no other person intrudes without his or express permission. If this bungalow closes, leading to an increased number in the other bungalows, then it will be impossible to maintain that standard.

As well as the increase in numbers in each bungalow, leading to more residents with shared bedrooms, there are further impacts to this decision. Clients with behavioural problems will now live with clients with challenging behavioural problems. Clients with mild disabilities will live with those who have profound disabilities. The same number of clients will be cared for with fewer staff and overcrowded day rooms will increase. Client activities, recreation and stimulation will decrease as staff will not be able to manage increased numbers. There will be increased demand for a decreasing level of bath, shower and toilet facilities because of the closure of the bungalow.

Everyone accepts savings must be made where possible, but theseshould not impact on the safety, security or care of the most vulnerable in our society. It will be very difficult under the new arrangement to maintain the quality of service that has existed until now. Another worrying aspect of this proposed closure is that HIQA's own standards and regulations are being breached, but there has never been an inspection of an intellectual disability service in Ireland. The standards are set but are not implemented nor the facilities to which they apply inspected. This has led to horrendous consequences elsewhere in the health service and the same mistakes should not continue to be made here.

I have an e-mail in my possession from a staff nurse who is currently off work because of an assault that took place because she was working with staff shortages. If the closure of this bungalow goes ahead, it will have serious consequences for the residents and for the safety of the staff. I appeal to the Minister and the HSE to reverse this decision immediately.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I will be taking this matter on the Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children. I thank Deputy O'Mahony for raising this matter and I am pleased to take this opportunity to outline the position on the proposed closure of a ten bed bungalow at Áras Attracta in Swinford.

The Health Service Executive has advised the Minister for Health and Children that Áras Attracta is a residential and day care service for people with intellectual disabilities in Swinford, and the service provides for 116 residential clients and 17 day care clients. It is a modern, purpose-built campus with residential bungalows and facilities for clients, including a workshop, gym and swimming pool. Each bungalow is in excess of 3,000 sq. ft. and is designed for ten residents.

As part of the Mayo primary community and continuing care cost containment measures for 2010, management at Áras Attracta is re-organising services to keep the service within budget while also ensuring the high quality of care for clients continues.

Management has engaged with staff and their representatives to seek proposals on how the service can remain within budget this year. These proposals have been considered and cost saving measures, including renegotiation of suppliers' contracts and efficiencies in the use of heating, are being implemented.

The option of closing one bungalow is being considered and will be brought to a Labour Relations Commission review on Thursday. Áras Attracta is a large site with a number of residential bungalows, and clients may move from one bungalow to another following consultation with the clients and their families and clinical and risk assessment. The movement of the clients to other bungalows within the campus is possible due to the reduction in the number of clients at Áras Attracta. The HSE would like to reassure clients, their families and friends that Áras Attracta will continue to deliver a high quality service to meet the needs of its clients.

I would like to take this opportunity to re-affirm the Government's commitment to the national disability strategy and to its long-term goals and objectives, which we will continue to pursue in the coming years in partnership with all the stakeholders. Our commitment in the areas of disability and mental health is consistent. Approximately €1.6 billion is spent annually by the health services on disability programmes.