Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. I am seeking clarity and reassurance from the Minister of State for residents of Áras Attracta, Swinford, County Mayo, and their families on the future of their residence at the Áras Attracta site. After the terrible revelations in the RTÉ report in 2014, the McCoy report was commissioned. One of a number of recommendations in the report when it was published in September 2016 was that the residents in the facility would be placed in the community over a five year period. I understand some residents have moved, but most are stillin situ. Will that recommendation be adhered to to the letter of the law? To what extent will families be consulted? In the case of the particular resident whose details I have supplied to the Minister of State, the family have not been consulted and they do not know what is happening, nor does their brother who is a resident in the facility. Does the Minister of State think it is a fair and proper way to proceed?

In the survey done leading up to the report, it was found that the majority of residents were very happy in Áras Attracta and with the care they were receiving, as were their families. Most of the residents are over 60 years of age and most have lived in Áras Attracta all their lives. There is a fear and a concern that people will be forced into the community against their wishes. This also ignores the fact that Áras Attracta is the residents' home, that some people have complex medical needs and that the community may not be the place for them. They are getting older and these conditions are not improving.

I also note that it is current policy to put people with intellectual disabilities into community settings. I understand that but we are talking about an older cohort of residents here. I know that for the most part, no new resident has been admitted since 1992. This facility opened in 1988. There is a case for residents and families to be listened to. In our drive to modernise, the focus should be on making sure that Áras Attracta is safe, secure and provides the necessary social and medical care.

I mention the various recommendations, including more activities for residents and that residents be given an opportunity for education and so on and issues around the physical building, including that two people should not share a room. All these things can be addressed on site. A statement needs to be made because there has been an awful lot of speculation about this. I would like a commitment that no residents will be placed in the community if they and their families are not in agreement with it. The Minister of State would allay a lot of fears if that commitment was given. After that, I would expect due consultation and a commitment in respect of the facilities there which need to be upgraded. There is a swimming pool there and, as I understand it, it is rarely, if ever, used. There is a lot of potential in Áras Attracta. It is a fine facility and it has given great service to the area, notwithstanding what happened. What happened, in terms of what gave rise to the report, means that work must be done to address those issues. I am not convinced that placing people in the community is a meaningful development in their care or a meaningful step towards improving their circumstances.