Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I concur with the sentiments of my colleague, Senator Rónán Mullen, in respect of post-traumatic stress disorder and the supports necessary for our Defence Forces. I have first-hand experience of the bravery shown by the navy divers and the Garda underwater unit in Blacksod Bay last weekend, when I spent some time on the ILV Granuailein a medical capacity. It is vital that we support our Defence Forces in this regard.

Yesterday it was confirmed that St. Joseph's psychiatric day centre in Ballaghadereen is to shut temporarily due to staff shortages. This comes in spite of an assurance given to Oireachtas Members by HSE management last October that there were no plans to close any day centre in County Roscommon, and that if a closure was proposed, public representatives would be consulted in advance. This is an issue which my colleagues, Senators Hopkins and Feighan, and indeed Deputy Eugene Murphy have raised before. I understand the HSE has pledged that the centre will reopen on 18 April. However, I am genuinely worried as to the future of the centre in its current situation.

It is my intention today to praise, commend and applaud the people of Ballaghadereen. Last week in The Irish Timesthere was a fabulous story of locals inviting Syrian refugees for a game of soccer. Mothers are donating buggies for babies. A welcome wall has been created. These Syrian people have come through hell, as we can only imagine. The people of Ballaghadereen should be highly commended for their welcoming efforts. I was also very happy to see that an initial €97,000 of health funding is to be allocated to medical resources in Ballaghadereen for the 80 refugees who are to be relocated there. However, that news is entirely blighted now by the closure of the psychiatric day centre. Lest we forget, the Syrian conflict is now the longest ever conflict, outlasting World War Two. What Ballaghadereen needs to become that shining beacon is intensive funding and investment, not cuts and closures.