James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Chambers for raising the important issue of the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar. I know she has consistently raised issues around the importance of the hospital in the Chamber, behind the scenes and directly with the Minister. It is a key priority for the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, and the Government to allow more people to engage in services that allow them to remain independent and live in their homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible. The HSE has operational responsibility for planning, managing and delivering health and personal social services, including day centres. These services are fundamental to the health and well-being of our older population. Just yesterday, my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for older people, Deputy Butler, had a high-level meeting with her officials requesting progress on this subject. Access to the centres can make an important contribution by providing invaluable support, advice and social interaction for older people who may, for any number of reasons, be experiencing isolation and loneliness. They play a key role in enabling older people to live independently within their own communities. It remains a priority for the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to ensure that day centres reopen as quickly and as safely as possible following their necessary closure in 2020 in response to Covid-19. The process for reopening day centres commenced in 2021, and the HSE continues to actively work on their reopening for older people as a priority, in line with current public health guidance. The HSE has allocated €6.5 million to community health organisations, CHOs, from within existing resources to facilitate the reopening of day care services for older people. In addition, €925,000 once-off funding was allocated to the Alzheimer Society of Ireland to assist with the operation of their dementia day-care services. This funding will support existing services to reopen and, in some, cases expand their services.

At the end of April, 264 centres for older people had reopened, which represents 80% of centres, and it is planned that a further 14 will reopen this month. There are two day services operating in Castlebar at present. Castlebar Social Services day service and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland are continuing to offer a service at home. However, day services at the Sacred Heart have not reopened. The HSE has advised the Department that it is making continuous efforts to source alternative accommodation. The social services space that was considered suitable for day services on the ground floor did not materialise because they rented the space to another day service. An alternative space located on the upper floor was reviewed by Community Healthcare West, but unfortunately it was deemed unsuitable. As infection prevention control, IPC, guidelines have now changed, an alternative space on the Sacred Heart Hospital campus is being pursued. The provision of a day service for the elderly on the Sacred Heart Hospital campus in Castlebar is preferable from an operational, governance and value for money perspective. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has advised me that the HSE is actively pursuing an interim arrangement for the summer and is exploring all options for a permanent space for Sacred Heart Hospital day services.