John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I am a little heartened that she went off script because up to that it was the standard HSE position, which sets the alarm bells ringing for St. Joseph's House and which seems to be on the way to being phased out. I understand the policy. It would be great if everybody could be cared for in their own homes and in a non-institutional setting. With no disrespect to anybody, nobody can tell me a nursing home anywhere, no matter how good it is - and the nursing home in Abbeyleix is good - is a place for the last 14 years for a wheelchair-bound 48 year old man who has a lot to offer and a lot of living left to do.

The Minister of State is correct that this is not the end of it. I am taking this as a special case and will hold the HSE responsible for the neglect of this man if it does not intervene and take heed of the Minister of State's intervention. I welcome the Minister of State's commitment that a solution suitable to this man and his family can be found. Otherwise we are looking at a life sentence in institutionalised care which is inappropriate to his condition, needs, entitlement and right to a healthy, long and fruitful life which can be as independent as possible and with as much fulfilment and growth as possible. His condition is declining and regressing due to the inappropriate setting. He needs to be among his peers in a setting of special care which can address his condition, the syndrome he has and his deafness.

I am grateful, as always, for the personal input from the Minister of State and the compassion she indicates. I urge her to intervene and bring forward her own input to this with the HSE so this man can look forward to the coming weeks, months and years ahead with some optimism. Despair surrounds him, languishing as he is in an inappropriate setting of a nursing home at this young age.