Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to welcome the visiting delegation from Canada. You are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I also want to join with the Cathaoirleach and the Leader of the House in paying tribute to Michael O'Regan and expressing sympathy to his family. He was a remarkable man. In many ways, when I think of John McGahern and his readings I also think of Michael O'Regan. He was a man of the earth and soil. He loved his beloved west Kerry and rural Ireland. I think of all of the political debates and banter I had with him in the canteen, where he would bring his tray up and queue in the self-service restaurant. We would talk about rural Ireland and balanced regional development, which he was passionate about. As we think about him, we should be mindful of our focus on balanced regional development across the island of Ireland and sustainable and successful rural communities, because that is what he believed in, espoused and was good at. He used his skill, talent and pen to constantly raise those concerns.

I want to raise the issue of St. John of God services. I raised it yesterday and in a Commencement matter today, for which I thank the Cathaoirleach. This is one of the most serious crises facing our care services in Ireland. We know St. John of God Community Services have the charge and care of more than 8,000 people in this State and employ more than 3,000 people. The organisation has had an ongoing battle with the HSE to have sufficient financial support and resources to provide appropriate care for its service users. That is the crux of the problem. Today, the board of St. John of God is meeting, as are people in the HSE. It is important that we resolve this matter.

In the long term, we have to ask ourselves about the impact of having one agency charged with the care of 8,000 vulnerable people in our State and the challenges around that. Are we serious about taking people out of institutional care settings? Are we really committed to community care and support? I want to acknowledge the workers, families and volunteers who continue to support the service.

In a nutshell, Senators need to challenge the mindset of keeping the doors open in terms of funding as the acceptable threshold for service delivery for St. John of God Community Services for people with intellectual disabilities and mental health services. It is simply not good enough or acceptable for the HSE to say that any of its services are breaking even. This is disappointing language and gives us an insight into the HSE's overall mindset as it equates to an acceptance that services should have to hang on by a thread.

I ask the Leader for a full debate on these matters. The timing is sensitive and it might not be appropriate to have a debate this week or next while negotiations are ongoing.However, I want a comprehensive debate soon on St. John of God Community Services, the level and appropriateness of services provided and the funding the organisation needs to provide those services.