Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am very concerned about the proposals relating to the community setting. The Minister said that addressing issues at Áras Attracta was a priority for the HSE but, just a couple of months ago, HIQA was threatening to close down the facility, despite all the investment there has been. HIQA withdrew its plan but the facility was clearly not achieving the desired outcome. What faith can we have that things will be sorted out in a community setting? I do not believe that people at this stage of their lives should be forced into the community. The individual to whom I refer has autism and a number of complex needs and living in an unfamiliar environment is a traumatic experience for such a person.

I do not see any sense in the plan. I respect experts but these are people who have been institutionalised for most of their lives. They are not of the younger generation, who might be better treated in the community. I worked in a hospital similar to Áras Attracta for five months a number of years ago, where I dealt with people with profound intellectual disabilities. They tried to implement the same policies as we are trying to implement in Ireland and I am not convinced they are for everybody. If we are to go beyond lip service and give the residents care and privacy, we owe it to them to upgrade Áras Attracta and to allow those who want to remain there for the rest of their days to do so. We should make it a healthy and happy environment for them as that is the humane option, rather than what is being suggested at the moment.