Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As four Deputies have joined in tabling this matter, each has one minute.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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St. Brigid's care home in Brittas, County Dublin opened in 1935. In 1959 it became a nursing home. Does the Minister realise that the staff and relatives were informed of its closure in the media? It shows a complete lack of decency. We were told the HIQA report in 2009 made some criticism of St. Brigid's home but according to the report the centre was well organised, management complies with the requirements of the Health Act 2007, the regulation standards and residents received a good standard of service, appropriate treatment and are treated with courtesy and respect. In summary, it stated the home had a good standard of care. There was a shortage of chairs and the building was in disrepair. A fortune has been spent to upgrade the building. There is a new palliative care and physiotherapy centre which cost approximately €2 million. New windows have been installed.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I concur with Deputy Crowe that the manner in which the staff and residents were informed of the situation through the media is totally unacceptable. The centre is home to some people. What will happen to the number of long-term beds in the region? The transfer of people who no longer need acute care will have profound implications for hospitals. There is a proposal to transfer some patients to Inchicore. It is clear there will be fewer long-term beds available in the greater Dublin region. A large number of beds have been closed in hospitals across Dublin.

There are currently 471 people waiting on trolleys but if we continue the policy of closing beds under any guise, including the Minister's new format, there will be massive overcrowding in accident and emergency departments. Hospitals will not be able to function and will have to activate major overcrowding initiatives to deal with the stress caused in accident and emergency departments. This is part of a broader issue. The manner in which staff and patients were informed of the closure is not acceptable.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is regrettable that despite the reform of the Dáil we only have one minute each to speak.

Can the Minister of State explain why the HIQA, having carried out a report and sought certain changes which were made, recommended the closure of the hospital? It is inexplicable that millions of euro have been spent on the facility over the past year and it will be closed on a whim. I do not have a difficulty defending hard decisions but in this case it is very difficult to support the statutory body, given the manner in which it has behaved and wasted money.

With regard to staff and relatives hearing of the closure through the media, I understand the HSE briefed some unions and one put the information into the public domain early on Monday morning having been briefed on Sunday night. I would like the Minister of State to confirm if that is the case. If it is, the HSE should consider how it conveys information. It should not brief unions in future. As a public representative in the area I was not briefed.

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Like everybody else I am very concerned about what happened yesterday and how the information on the closure of the home was released to the media. I am concerned about the 80 patients and staff who are now in turmoil. At the beginning of the year Brú Chaoimhín on Cork Street was closed with the loss of 120 beds and now 80 beds have been closed in Tallaght.

The new unit in Inchicore is lovely. It has not been opened but only has capacity for 50 beds. In 2009 the HSE made a commitment in writing to the residents in St. Michael's that 15% of the allocation of beds in the new long-term care centre would be given to people living in Inchicore, Kilmainhan and Ballyfermot. To date nothing has happened. I am concerned that 120 beds which are vital for people who want to return to and live in the community will be lost.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I thank Deputies for raising this issue. It provides me with an opportunity to update the House on this matter. St. Brigid's in Brittas, County Dublin, was established in 1959. It was originally a tuberculosis clinic which opened in 1935. There are currently 80 residents, as has been outlined by Deputies, at the facility. There is also a day centre at the front of the main building providing a service to older persons from the local community.

The HSE completed a survey of the physical infrastructure, mechanical services installations and water and drainage services at the unit and found substantial issues and deficits in these areas. It is estimated it would cost almost €3 million to carry out essential works to address these issues. However, these works would not ensure compliance with national quality standards,

The HSE decided to close St. Brigid's and transfer the majority of services to the new modern purpose built unit at Hollybrook Community Nursing Unit at Inchicore. The new CNU at Inchicore has a total capacity of 50 beds. It has not been opened to date due to the current constraints on staffing. As the capacity of the new CNU is less than that at St. Brigid's the proposal also envisages some staff and residents will transfer to other public units. This will provide the HSE with an opportunity to reopen beds that are closed at these facilities.

Selection of an alternative placement for residents will be informed by the medical and care needs of each resident as evaluated by clinical staff. It is important to emphasise that no resident will be placed in a more costly financial position because of the move. The day care services at St. Brigid's are used by approximately 18 people daily from Monday to Friday. Part of the relocation plan will include the placement of these clients in alternative day centres suitable for their needs in their local areas. Ongoing consultation will continue to take place with residents, their families, staff, representative organisations and public representatives.

I would like to reassure the House that patients in Tallaght Hospital or any other acute hospital who require long term residential care can continue to apply for financial support under the nursing homes support scheme. Once a person receives approval for financial support he or she can choose to enter any nursing home participating in the scheme in any part of the country, subject to the nursing home having an available bed and being able to cater for the person's particular needs. This applies to public, private and voluntary nursing homes alike.

Patients at Tallaght Hospital requiring residential care will be able to avail of beds at the newly purpose built CNU if and when they become available. They will also be able to avail of options from public beds that are reopened in other facilities or they may choose a bed in a private nursing home. I understand that the indicative timescale for the transfer is between three and six months.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State's reply. Services are being downgraded across Dublin. Fewer beds are now available for long-term stay patients which will ensure acute beds in hospitals all over Dublin will back up. It is unacceptable when they are also many bed closures elsewhere. The time limit is appalling.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Would the Minister of State facilitate a meeting in order that we can raise some concerns? We will not deal with any serious issues here.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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How much money was spent on the facility since the last HIQA report? Who sanctioned it? I understand unions were briefed on Sunday night and may have put the information into the public domain. Can the Minister of State establish if this is the case? If it is the case, will she give a commitment that unions will not be briefed before relatives and staff in future?

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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The HSE framework plan for 2009 states: "Elderly residents who previously had to access long-term resident care outside the area will now be able to continue to live within the local community". What commitment can the Minister of State gave to the people living in Inchicore, Bluebell and Ballyfermot that the 15% allocation of beds promised in the new unit in Inchicore, Hollybrook, will go to them?

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I agree with the Deputies that some leeway must be given when an topical issue is of concern to more one Deputy. This debate is a case in point.

I do not have the type of detail sought by Deputy Timmins but will seek it out and reply to him. I cannot give an assurance that unions will not be notified before families. I understand consultation took place with people living in the unit and their families. People who work in the unit are entitled to representation. I reassure Deputy Crowe that I will have no difficulty in meeting representatives who are concerned about the issue. There will be a deficit in the number of beds available. It is an issue to which we will have to give very careful consideration.