Results 10,821-10,840 of 21,440 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: So, whether directly or through an intermediary, those payments were made in respect of Grace to the home, which - whatever its official status was - was no longer a foster home. In other words, there was a funding stream from the State directly into this place.

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: Was that the case also in respect of Ann?

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: No, no, no. Please, let us keep it to the point. Let us talk about Ann specifically. What State moneys went to this home for her care? I understand she was residing at home and was in this place at weekends. Is that correct?

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: Is Mr. Healy saying she stayed in this place in a part-time capacity and no money changed hands, that she stayed there free gratis?

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: Let us just roll the tape back and talk a little about Ann. The witnesses have told us in their opening statement that Ann was born in 1980. We are told contact with the foster family commenced when she was 12 years old, which would have been 1992.

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: As it happens, that is the same year in which the South Eastern Health Board was made aware of concerns around this particular foster home. The dates tally. When Mr. Healy says contact with the foster family began at that point, was it a part-time arrangement even then, when Ann was 12?

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: Will Mr. Healy give me a "Yes" or "No" answer? Was it a part-time arrangement?

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: In respect of that part-time arrangement, presumably moneys were handed over for Ann's weekend stays?

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: Why is Mr. Healy not clear? He has told us it was a foster home officially until 1995.

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: Why does the HSE have no records in regard to it?

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: Mr. Healy is telling us this child was placed, albeit on a part-time basis, at the age of 12, in what was still officially a foster home in the very year concerns about that place were brought to the attention of the authorities. He is also telling us he does not know and cannot tell us what the financial arrangement was and what, if any, State money or subsidies were paid to this place in...

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: I will come to that, if Mr. O'Brien does not mind.

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: I will come to it. I just want to put the pieces of this together.

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: That is what we have established so far. The child was placed in 1992 at 12 years of age on a part-time basis. The delegates from the HSE have no idea and cannot tell the committee what, if any, moneys were paid in respect of that child to what was still a foster home.

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: Pardon?

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: However, Mr. O'Brien cannot tell me that because he does not have records.

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: I will come to that in a moment.

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: I ask the questions and Mr. O'Brien answers them.

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: In 1998, Ann would have turned 18. We need to figure this out and the delegates must be clear on it. Once Ann reached the age of majority, what was the status of the then health board in terms of its duty of care and what was the status of her family? I am raising this very particularly because the delegates are going to very great lengths to emphasise these were private arrangements. It...

Public Accounts Committee: HSE Report on Foster Home in Waterford Community Care Area: Discussion (2 Feb 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am responding to Mr. O'Brien's words, and I am looking at them in black and white in front of me. At the point at which Ann turned 18 she became an adult, albeit a very vulnerable one. The health board was aware that there were issues with the foster home, which was then not a foster home. Why is it that Mr. O'Brien insists it was for her family to intervene and ensure her safety? Will...