Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue for discussion today. As the House is aware, news came through late last night that the residential service provided by Wisdom Services at Cregg House in Sligo was to be withdrawn. That was devastating news for the many families who have a member in residence there. There are more than 214 residents at Cregg House. The service covers the whole north west, including Sligo, Leitrim, west Cavan and south Donegal. Many families from Donegal have benefited from the services at Cregg House over the years. Their loved ones have been well looked after, and I know from talking to these families that they are extremely happy with the level of service that has been provided over the years. There have never been any problems with access or visiting. This news is devastating for the families and brings unnecessary uncertainty to them and to the residents of Cregg House, many of whom will be greatly affected by the turmoil and the prospect of having to move to completely new surroundings. This will take a long time and will need to be handled carefully by the health services.

Since 2005, Cregg House has had greater reductions in support than equivalent services across the country. This information is gleaned from the HSE's own annual report. It is important to remember this in the context of today's debate.

This morning in the House, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, stated that the Cregg House Wisdom Services had voluntarily withdrawn its service. That is, at best, disingenuous. I know from discussions with Wisdom Services and with the families that they have tried to find a way to continue. The real reason the service is being withdrawn at Cregg House is that, in 2012, it suffered a €1.3 million reduction in its budget from the HSE. Since 2008, there has been a total reduction of almost €4 million in funding to this vital service. It is important to put that €1.3 million reduction in context. The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Joe Costello, spent €1.3 million in the last year on consultancy services in his Department. This was for 65 reports, many of which will be unread and unused and will gather dust on shelves in the Department. This is the very same amount of money that would have ensured the continuation of services at Cregg House.

The statement last night from Wisdom Services said that the HSE would continue to provide the services. I have no faith that this is the case. Indeed, the statement from Wisdom Services reads: "We sincerely hope that the HSE can in the future secure the funding required to provide people with disabilities in this area with modern accommodation." That is the crux of the issue. How will the HSE provide for the residents of Cregg House in the context of reducing budgets, a recruitment embargo and the withdrawal of services across the board in the north west and around the country? I demand that the HSE and the Government provide the funding for Wisdom Services and make up the amount of the backlog, because that is how the service can be continued. In this way, families can be sure their loved ones will receive the care and attention they rightly deserve.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I thank Deputy Pringle for raising this matter. I am pleased to take this opportunity to outline the current position of Wisdom Services. As the Deputy is aware, Wisdom Services is a voluntary body operated by the Daughters of Wisdom which provides services for people with disabilities in the north-west region. It supports more than 200 service users, with 111 on campus, 75 in the community and 20 day attendees. I was disappointed to learn that the Daughters of Wisdom, who operate Wisdom Services, have advised the HSE that they intend to withdraw from the provision of services on behalf of the HSE. The HSE has been working with Wisdom Services for some time to address its financial concerns and identify opportunities for efficiencies and savings through potential new combinations of service delivery in the north west. Wisdom Services has a cost containment plan for 2012, which has had some success, but despite detailed engagement by the HSE with its management, I regret that Wisdom Services has now decided to withdraw from service provision. I would like to reassure the families of the children and adults with disabilities that their current level of service will continue to be provided. I am requesting the HSE to work with Wisdom Services to ensure continuity of service for all clients while a transition process is being put in place. I understand that Wisdom Services has written to families of service users and to staff to reassure them of its co-operation in this process. I thank Wisdom Services for its dedication and commitment to providing services to children and adults in the north west since 1955.

The HSE will now commence a detailed assessment of all aspects of Wisdom Service operations in order to arrive at a mutually agreed resolution on the continuation of services to its clients and, in particular, to ensure that service users will continue to receive the care and support they require. I understand that early discussions are planned with the management of the service. Wisdom Services was allocated €15.5 million by the HSE in 2012 and has been funded consistently over the years. In addition, it was the beneficiary of 38% of all intellectual disability development moneys in this HSE area in the period 2006 to 2011, as well as additional capital funding. This compares favourably with the percentage of clients with intellectual disabilities from the area covered by its services. Accordingly, I do not accept that this service has been under-funded, allowing for the necessary reductions that have been applied evenly to all service providers in the last two to three years.

I thank Wisdom Services for its work in providing services to children and adults over the years, and I urge all involved to work closely to ensure that the needs of service users and their families are given priority. Even when I was in opposition I thought it reprehensible to frighten the families of people who relied on particular services. This service will continue to be provided to the people who rely on it. The service provider has done a good job over the years and we owe a debt of gratitude to the voluntary, private and religious service providers which stepped in when the State was reluctant to get involved. The State is now more involved and while the services that are provided in the future will differ in some respects, in this instance the service on which people have come to depend will continue.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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I reject the Minister of State's contention that I am trying to frighten service users and their families. When I met family members today after they received the letter from Wisdom Services, they expressed concern for what the future holds. When I look around the country and see how the HSE has been withdrawing services and cutting home care packages, I realise they are right to be worried. I do not believe the HSE will be able to sustain the level of service these families have enjoyed. It needs to make it clear to the families what type of service they can expect because they may face the prospect of moving their loved ones to alternative residential premises. Will the HSE take over Cregg House in order to maintain the service there?

The family of a son who entered hospital recently had to care for him because of staffing issues. The hospital could not provide the care and attention this family's loved one required. Wisdom Services provided that level of service and it was disingenuous of the Minister for Education and Skills and the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to imply that Wisdom Services is voluntarily withdrawing. If the funding had not been cut by €1.3 million this year, it would not be in this situation and the service would not be under threat. I hope the HSE will at least make contact with the families to reassure them the service they expect will continue. I ask the Minister of State to confirm whether the HSE will continue to provide the services in Cregg House.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I presume the families and individuals who have particular concern about this matter are following the debate. There was nothing disingenuous in the Minister's reply this morning. People decide to discontinue providing services for all sorts of reasons and this is not the first year in which the Daughters of Wisdom and Cregg House have encountered difficulties in funding. Negotiations have been ongoing over the service and I understand the families were extremely happy with the service provided. It is to its credit that Wisdom Services is seeking to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible. I assure families that day services, residential accommodation and respite care will continue to be provided without gaps.

The trying times in which we live demand a little bit more from all of us. Everybody is feeling that burden but we need to be especially conscious of the people to whom we deliver services, including at Cregg House.

I remind the Deputy that the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Costello, has only been in his current office for a portion of a year. I think he deserves an apology.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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His Department spent the money.