John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have the privilege of welcoming the new Minister of State at the Department of Health to the House for the first time in that capacity. I wish him well in his endeavours. He is singularly fit and capable of carrying out his duties and responsibilities.

In the 18 months I have been in the Seanad I have not raised a matter that concerns me as much as this matter before the House. It concerns some of the most vulnerable people in our community, namely, Down's syndrome children and adults. The issue is the arbitrary and unilateral closure and withdrawal of residential respite care for Down's syndrome children and young adults in Mountrath and Abbeyleix in County Laois without anything that comes close to meaningful consultation with the clients or their families. This action has been undertaken by the Muiríosa Foundation based on cutbacks which are not only unjust but grossly misguided. They are morally irresponsible, medically unsound and there is no monetary value or savings associated with them. To date, the Muiríosa Foundation has not been able to indicate what savings will accrue. The move amounts to changing tack and policy. I see it as a farming out of services by the HSE and the Department of Health to what is essentially a private service provider. It is a move towards an American model of service delivery. This would not have occurred under the remit of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary in Moore Abbey, which operated these services before the establishment of the Muiríosa Foundation.

Last Saturday week I attended a rally in Abbeyleix. One would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved and persuaded by the testimonies of the families affected. Fortunately, our society has moved on but in the past, these children and people with intellectual disabilities were hidden behind high walls. Our society and community have moved on from that and now these people are being cared for in their homes and communities where they belong.

As a result of this process there are many instances of elderly parents or parents of advancing years who are trying to cater for and cope with adults with the mind of a child. There are adults ranging from 35 to 55 years of age who have the mental capacity of a young child. One parent approached me whose 35 year old son is in nappies 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is the level of need and care these people require.

These families are not looking for much from the State. They are not looking for handouts but merely for some cover or respite one weekend in six, not only for the children and young adults who have autism or Down's syndrome, but for themselves in order that they can recuperate and recover to face the challenges that come with catering for and coping with these challenging behaviours. No one wants to abdicate responsibility. I implore the Minister of State through his good offices and his sense of decency and concern to intervene in this regard.

The agency concerned receives a significant sum, amounting to ¤40 million, from the HSE to provide services. I realise it has a range of services to provide. However, I would like to think that somewhere within the service level agreement there is a stipulation that it is not possible for the organisation to walk off the pitch without any consultation or concern for these families or to decide to withdraw services in Abbeyleix and Mountrath. This decision is impacting harshly and with distressing outcomes on 90 families.