Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I refer to St. Mary's day care centre in Mullingar because so many elderly people and their families have contacted me about it. Some 245 elderly people use this well respected and loved day care service which covers a large area of County Westmeath, including Streamstown, Castletown Geoghegan, Horseleap, Clonmellon, Dalystown and Mullingar.

The service provided in this homely and warm day care centre is second to none. Some of the services provided are essential to the well-being of our elderly folk. For instance, service users have a warm dinner when they arrive. There is much social interaction, which is so important when one is older. Some of the ladies told me they would not see anyone from one end of the week to the other if they could not avail of this service. Some of them have been using it for up to ten years. They avail of services such as chiropody and hairdressing, as everyone needs to have his or her hair done. It is a great facility. On personal hygiene, some older people are unable to get in and out of the bath; therefore, they avail of nursing care. Others play bingo and look forward to going to the centre perhaps one or two days each week to meet their friends. When people work all their lives - we are extending the length of time one must work - it is important they have something to look forward to and a place to go to that is warm and safe to meet their friends.

When I spoke to the HSE manager, I was told the reason there was a concern about the day care centre was that a nurse was retiring and there was a HSE embargo on staff recruitment. It is extraordinary that because someone is retiring, 245 people will be deprived of this essential and worthy service. Therefore, staff and service user morale is at an all time low. People who have worked all their lives and laid the ground for the Celtic tiger, the benefits of which have been wasted, deserve quality of life in their remaining years. I am curious to know how the Minister of State will respond. An insecure agency nursing service is not acceptable. The embargo must be lifted and a full-time staff member appointed to the service to ensure it is maintained.