Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue for discussion today. Given her absence on official duties, I will provide an update on the matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. The HSE has advised that due to public health advice issued at the onset of the Covid pandemic, an environmental risk assessment was carried out at Sruthán House to establish the suitability of the facility.That assessment established that the facility presented an unacceptably high level of risk for respite care. These risks included insufficient space in the premises to implement required infection control measures insufficient space in specific areas to comply with social distancing guidelines between service users due to layout, and non-compliance with national public health emergency team guidelines if service users were to attend for respite.

The HSE has confirmed the provision of outreach and alternative respite has continued while Sruthán House is closed to respite. The Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities fully appreciates the concerns of service users and their families in respect of this closure, and it is an issue the HSE has been working to resolve. The Minister acknowledges the advocacy of Senator McGreehan, who has advocated for this premises for many years, including when she was a councillor, as she stated. I know it is very dear to her heart and it is great we have positive news today. I thank her for all the work she has done, along with the other local representatives, in calling for a solution to be found to this matter. Indeed, the issue of Sruthán House was raised with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, during her visit to Dundalk and the Cooley Peninsula on Monday.

In this context, I can inform the House that the HSE, through its Louth disability service, is in discussions with a provider to develop alternative suitable accommodation to deliver this service. I am pleased to report the HSE has advised that a location has been sourced and is currently undergoing renovation works to ensure HIQA compliance. It is anticipated the works will be completed shortly, allowing the service to be recommenced by the end of the first quarter of 2022, that is, by the end of this month. That is really positive for the service users. The HSE has confirmed it has plans to issue communications with relevant details to service users and their families this week. I trust this clarifies the issue for the Senator and the House.