Maura Hopkins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise a very serious issue in regard to the Rosalie unit in Castlerea. I have raised this issue before and asked questions for many months. When one does not get replies, it causes one to ask even more questions. We had a meeting with the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, and HSE chief official, Tony Canavan, yesterday on the current and long-term future of the unit. The unit supports residents in long-term care who have mental health difficulties. It was initially a 33-bed unit and it now has only 12 residents. I finally received replies to questions I asked in November.I came to the conclusion that there were very serious issues and that was following many family discussions. We received evidence that there have not been new admissions since 27 September 2016. My impression from last night's meeting is that the future of the Rosalie unit is not positive. Tony Canavan, the chief health officer, gave absolutely no commitment that there was a long-term future for it. He also said that it would not be opening to new admissions.

I am very frustrated because the HSE seems to be attempting to close the unit, not inform us, not be honest and open with the public and public representatives. I was at a meeting in 2015 when this issue arose and the then Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Kathleen Lynch, gave us a very clear commitment that the residents within that unit would be able to stay there and that there was a long-term future for the delivery of services within that unit. That has been called into question now.

I want a solution to be focused on serving and supporting people in our area. At the moment residents are likely to have to move to Ballinasloe which is 61 km away. We want services in our area. I am asking that the HSE deliver that and that it listens to us and is honest with us.