Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)
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I wish to share one minute with Senator Cassidy.

Pat Moylan (Fianna Fail)
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That is agreed.

Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for being present to note this serious matter I raise on behalf of residents in St. Peter's Centre in Castlepollard. My information is that a number of residents were to be moved from this institution and integrated into the community of the greater Westmeath area. As the Minister can imagine, this was great news for the families, particularly for the aging parents who would see their sons and daughters finally settled and living independently with dignity and in safety.

In 2000, the HSE purchased ten houses around the Mullingar area and these were left idle and allowed to become dilapidated and unfit for living. This is an example of the waste of money over which the HSE has presided and how it has failed the most vulnerable in our society. We have come out of a period of immense wealth, but people with intellectual disability could not be given their own space to live in, decorate as they wish, have their own possessions, cook and invite in visitors. It is a lack of the HSE prioritising people with mental health issues. I would like the Minister to come to the Seanad and tell us how many actions from A Vision for Change have been realised. Is it just another glossy document? It is in operation for three years and it arises here time and again.

In recent weeks, a number of the families have contacted me and informed me that three houses had been allocated. I have been particularly concerned about a case involving a daughter whose family was told the houses were not to go ahead. They were devastated. It has a knock-on effect for families. The houses were ready and renovated to a very high standard. The HSE is so uncaring and out of touch to have pulled the plug on this development just because it has inadequate staffing levels. The family contacted the HSE and received a cold-hearted, one-line e-mail. Can the Minister imagine if that were his son or daughter? I live my life by putting myself in the position of such people. The lady in question has been living in St. Peter's for 20 years and her family was so excited about her finally being settled once and for all. It is high time she and her friends were allowed to live with dignity and independence. The Minister is familiar with the model of choice whereby the individual has a service designed to meet his or her particular needs and it is the most respectful way we can support people with intellectual disabilities.

Why does the HSE not work a shift staffing system like the other non-statutory organisations? In the non-statutory sector there is one member of staff for one resident, whereas the HSE has nearly twice as many. The Mental Health Commission has said it is more important than ever that the Government stick to its commitment to ring-fence funding from the sale of all the mental health institutions, which the Minister is reviewing, and I urge him to ensure that happens and that the money is not subsumed into the black hole that is the HSE. Mental health has always been the poor relation and I fear people with mental health issues will be even further down the pecking order.

I am aware the Minister is connected with what is going on. I ask that the staffing moratorium be lifted and the whole-time equivalents needed be provided so these residents can get on with their lives.

Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)
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In my home town of Castlepollard I can look back to when the Cathaoirleach was chairman of the health board and the Minister and his father were members of the health board with us when we took the decision to place these very important patients out in the community. It was a great step forward. I thank all the members of the board at that time who allowed the three fabulous residential houses in Castlepollard for patients to come out into the community and give them a quality life in the beautiful rural lake district of County Westmeath. I look forward to quality living for these patients in the future.

The outstanding staff in St. Peter's Hospital over the years have given these patients tremendous care to allow them to come out into the community and give them their independence with help and support. We, as public representatives in the midland health board area, worked as hard as we could to get the Minister and Government of the day to put the funding in place so this could happen. The Minister comes from the midland district and has the practical experience along with all of us who served on the health board. We can say this is a great day and if staffing levels are the problem we want to stress to the Minister, as Senator McFadden said, that it is a wonderful step forward in quality living for the patients who will be the beneficiaries for the rest of their lives.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator McFadden for raising the issue, and Senator Cassidy. I thank Senator McFadden for the invitation to come into the House, and I will do so. I do not mean to long-finger this. I do not blame any Senator for expressing concern about the recommendations in the Government's reform programme, A Vision for Change. It is fair and proper for me to say that not alone is Senator McFadden dissatisfied with the pace of change and implementation of the recommendations, but Dr. Ruth Barrington and the monitoring committee for A Vision for Change have already made those points quite clearly, as has the implementation body.

I will outline my strategy in this area. It is very important that a number of parts of the programme for reform be put in place first. Over the last three years many people have asked for a lead director, somebody specifically with responsibility for driving A Vision for Change. Part of my ongoing proposal to start delivering the recommendations was to put such a person in place. I am pleased to tell the House that last week the HSE has accepted that and will very shortly interview to put the lead mental health proposer in place to deliver on that.

My second point deals with Castlepollard. I fully support the notion that in an era where we will not have new development money it was never more essential to provide funding for mental health. I see that through the sale of assets and the realisation of the values there. This message keeps getting lost. I am not saying Senator McFadden is losing the message; far from it. I do not mind any Senator being in some doubt. The reality will be very clear. A Vision for Change is predicated on delivering the recommendations based on the securing of the asset value. If that is not the case, that means A Vision for Change cannot become a reality. A Vision for Change is the current reform package in mental health and whatever funding is secured from the sale of properties will be ring-fenced for mental health.

People can suggest that this has not happened in the past. I will not waste time delving into the past. I can talk only in terms of the enactment of A Vision for Change. The revenue from the properties that have been sold since the publication of A Vision for Change amounts to €54 million. That figure was raised by the sale of St. Loman's Hospital in Dublin. There was never any suggestion of selling St. Loman's Hospital in Mullingar. People there thought I was very cutely coming in at dark of night to sell off St. Loman's Hospital in Mullingar and disappear back to Mountmellick. That was never the case but, unfortunately, the press release apparently gave the impression it was St. Loman's in Mullingar. That €54 million will be the first tranche of money going into delivering the recommendations.

The most important development has been that the leader in mental health will report specifically to the Minister. That person's role will be to deliver on the recommendations. To answer the Senator's questions, I look forward to coming to the Seanad. I am asking for some time for the moment. I have targeted September to revisit A Vision for Change and to make clear commitments on when the properties will come on the market and what they will deliver by way of capital programmes.

It is very important to deal with ongoing revenue demands. In that context, I am working with many of the organisations providing mental health services to see how we can deliver that package. I do not blame Senators for wondering whether A Vision for Change is alive. It is and if they give me some months, I will prove that.

The matter raised relates to A Vision for Change. It depends on services in the community. Castlepollard is one example of that. Where properties are secured for the delivery of community supports, the follow-on is that I must, in some way, find the resources to ensure staff can be provided to those houses.

The co-ordination and planning of services to meet the needs of people with disabilities form a central tenet of the national disability strategy. A critical element of such co-ordination and planning is the requirement to provide financial support for the development and implementation of services. An integral part of the national disability strategy is the multi-annual investment programme announced in the 2005 budget which provided €9 million for services.

In terms of services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, 275 new residential places and 911,000 extra home care personal assistance hours have been provided. A total of 406 places in the intellectual disability residential service have been enhanced, 61 respite places have been enhanced and 43 residential places in the physical and sensory disability service have also been enhanced.

In regard to the matter raised by Senators McFadden and Cassidy, I understand from the HSE that there are two phases to the transfer programme from St. Peter's care centre for residents into smaller domestic-type dwellings in the community. I further understand from the HSE that 15 residents were transferred in 2003 resulting in the closure of the full unit known as Hilltop. They are now living in the community. According to the HSE, phase one of the transfer programme has worked well and has impacted very positively on the lives of those residents.

At present, the HSE is in the final stage of phase two of the St. Peter's transfer programme. This involves the opening of the three houses to which the Senators referred. It will mean the transfer of 17 residents from St. Peter's care centre and the closure of the full unit, Manor House.

The houses are now ready, the residents have been identified and the preparatory work has been undertaken. The HSE has confirmed that it is currently considering staffing this phase of the programme from within its existing resources.

I reaffirm the Government's commitment to people with disabilities. The Senators asked when staffing levels will be resolved and when the houses will be opened. I have met many of the families involved and have given them a clear commitment that this is an issue which I am pursuing with the HSE and the Department. This morning I renewed negotiations and talks with the Department of Health and Children and the HSE. Having embarked on that strategy, it is up to us to work out how we will staff not only Castlepollard, but other properties. It will not be long-fingered and I intend to come back to the House as quickly as possible with those proposals. Naturally, I must accept the stark reality that the houses have been prepared, the residents have been notified and the next step is to ensure the transfer happens as quickly as possible.

Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for the very detailed and comprehensive reply. I know he will do his best and I thank him for that. A number of people retired in Castlepollard and that is the reason for the problem. They do not have the staff. From where will they get the staff? I commend Mr. Joe Ruane and Ms Maura Morgan from the HSE to whom I have been speaking. They are at their wits end. It is through no fault of theirs; it is just the staff are not there. The moratorium will have to be lifted.

John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I understand Senator McFadden is seriously concerned. I have met Ms Maura Morgan, Mr. Joe Moran and Mr. Donal Fitzsimons. I do not want to give the Senator an answer for the sake of it. I accept fully this issue must be dealt with. The Department and the HSE must work out how we can increase staffing levels. This morning I gave the Department certain figures and have asked whether we need that level of staffing.

I have given a commitment to deal with this issue. The same situation applies in my home county and I want it dealt with as quickly as possible. My ambition is to close the Alvernia unit for the intellectually disabled attached to St. Fintan's hospital in Portlaoise, not tomorrow but yesterday, and the people accommodated in the community. I have made that commitment which is an essential part of what A Vision for Change is all about. I see little point in delaying this while at the same time telling the Senator I am all for A Vision for Change.