Garret Kelleher (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta O'Donnell, as ucht teacht isteach maidin inniu chun déileáil leis an ní seo, a bhaineann le Westgate Foundation i mBaile an Chollaigh i gCorcaigh. Tá sé riachtanach go ndéanfar gach aon iarracht na seirbhísí iontacha atá á soláthar ag Westgate Foundation a chosaint. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as an obair ar fad atá déanta aige ar son Westgate Foundation agus as an gcuairt a thug sé air i mí an Mhárta chun na seirbhísí ar fad a fheiscint agus chun bualadh leis an bhfoireann bainistíochta, chomh maith le lucht bainistíochta HSE.

Mar is eol don Aire Stáit, is fíorthábhachtach an rud é cinnteacht a thabhairt do Westgate Foundation faoi thodhchaí na heagraíochta agus seans a thabhairt don fhoireann bainistíochta na seirbhísí a fhorbairt i gcomhréir leis na riachtanais atá ag dul i méid i measc daoine aosta inár bpobal i mBaile an Chollaigh agus sna ceantair mórthimpeall orainn. Ballincollig is a very special place. It is a thriving and progressive town with a fantastic community spirit, a culture of volunteerism and a strong sense of togetherness and inclusion. At the heart of our community, quietly catering for the needs of our senior citizens, is the Westgate Foundation. Westgate provides invaluable services to our senior citizens and the areas surrounding Ballincollig. These services include a day care programme led by nurses and healthcare assistants, community catering with meals-on-wheels, social activities and transport.

The work done by the team at Westgate Foundation enables older people in our community to stay at home and live independently while maintaining a vital social connection. The services provided give Westgate clients the support they need to maintain and enjoy this independence. Without the provision of these community-based services, there is no doubt that the likelihood of elderly service users requiring home care packages and nursing home support would increase significantly. A majority of service users have considerable health challenges associated with growing old, including dementia, declining mobility, and the adverse impacts of social isolation.

As the Minister of State is aware, Westgate Foundation is reliant on section 39 State funding, administered through the HSE South West, to provide services to senior citizens. It has become increasingly apparent over the past number of years that the funding provided through the service level agreement is no longer sufficient to maintain services at their current levels. This issue has been dealt with at irregular intervals and on an ad hoc basis by the HSE in recent years when it has been recognised that the core funding provided is inadequate and top-up payments of various amounts have been made in an effort to ensure the continuity the services.

As the Minister of State is aware, one of the primary reasons for the increased costs being borne by Westgate Foundation is related to the fact that the organisation had been heavily dependent on the community employment scheme, which is an unsustainable position given that the economy is effectively operating at full employment. It is of a crucial importance that Westgate is given the financial support and certainty from the State that it needs to ensure its future and long-term viability at the heart of the Ballincollig community. The Minister of State will be aware from his recent visit that there are long waiting lists for services. These waiting lists are primarily administered through HSE referrals and public health nurses locally.That lends further emphasis to the fact that needs are growing and there is increasing demand in the community. Financial certainty is required on a long-term basis to ensure the viability of the organisation. I thank the Minister of State for the support he has given thus far in relation to these challenges.