Brendan Ryan (Labour)
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I welcome the Minister of State to the House for his second time today. I hope he does not have to depart as quickly as previously.

I am raising this urgent matter on behalf of the 165 service users in the St. Joseph's intellectual disability unit, Portrane, and their very concerned family and friends. For a great many years a campaign has been fought by the residents of St. Joseph's and their families and friends, supported by sections of the media and by my brother, former Deputy, Sean Ryan, which has led to some progress and the construction of the new state of the art facility, known as Knockamann. However, last year concerned local residents of Portrane alerted me to the fact that the new building seemed to be lying idle and was in danger of vandalism, which would be a great shame.

On foot of this, I raised the matter with the Minister for Health and Children and secured a response in July 2009. The reply confirmed that the construction of the new 60-bed residential development was completed and was handed over to the HSE on 9 July 2009. The reply went on to report that the equipping programme was under way and would be complete by mid or late September 2009. I expressed my fears at the time that the opening of this state of the art facility would be delayed due to the Government's moratorium on recruitment in the public service and I called on the Minister to make whatever decisions necessary to ensure the facility did not remain unoccupied and that the residents could be transferred without further delay.

In December 2009, the report of the Inspector of Mental Health Services on St. Joseph's was published, with the main conclusion that the planned completion of the new unit by the year's end would improve living conditions for residents substantially. The report went on to state: "the new service impresses as service user orientated". The report's key recommendation was that the commissioning of the new facility should be progressed and the building opened. In fact the 2009 report cited the recommendations from the 2008 inspector's report, which stated the new facilities were near completion and would be ready for occupancy in September 2009.

At the start of this year, in the knowledge that the new facility had not opened as planned, my colleague, Deputy Joanna Tuffy, tabled a parliamentary question on my behalf. The Minister's reply confirmed that the construction and fit-out was completed as planned, but that the new status was that no opening date was agreed. The reply went on to state that the reason no opening date has been agreed is that additional nursing staff are required to open the development. It added that the HSE had submitted a business case to the Department for the additional nursing staff required. Whatever the reasons for the delay, residents of St. Joseph's and their families are dismayed at this latest delay. It is an absolute scandal.

Since this latest reply from the Minister, the country has been shocked by the "Prime Time" report on the dilapidated state of St. Ita's. I must point out that this referred to the report on the psychiatric service as opposed to the intellectual disability service. However, St. Joseph's residents are in the old building also.

On top of this, the HSE has placed a service for homeless children on the grounds of St. Ita's, Grove Lodge, beside a high support unit for at-risk children, Crannog Nua. Some of the young people concerned are causing serious trouble for residents of St. Ita's and St. Joseph's, as well as for local residents in Portrane. I have received reports on vulnerable service users, many of them elderly, having their cigarettes and spending money stolen.

We have been told time and again that the building of Knockamann "forms a crucial part in progressing national policy in effecting the transfer of clients with intellectual disabilities currently in psychiatric hospitals to more appropriate accommodation". That is all well and good, but what can we say to the service users who can see the new building and every day ask themselves why can they not move in.

I understand St. Joseph's Association for the Intellectually Disabled, Portrane, an advocacy and support group for service users, is also awaiting a response on the matter. I urge the Minister to respond to the association without further delay and give a date today for the opening of Knockamann. We must have a credible date that can be adhered to, not the end of the year, as suggested. I call for its immediate opening and look forward to the Minister of State's reply.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I thank the Senator for raising it.

I am pleased to take the opportunity to outline the position on St. Joseph's intellectual disability services in Portrane, County Dublin. As the Senator pointed out, the construction and equipping of a new 60-bed residential development, including the provision of day services for clients of St. Joseph's intellectual disability services, are complete and the development was handed over to the HSE in July 2009. The development forms a crucial part in progressing national policy in effecting the transfer of clients with intellectual disabilities currently in psychiatric hospitals to more appropriate accommodation. It is the intention of the HSE to commission the entire development — the residential bungalows, of which there are ten, and the day resource centre — as soon as possible. However, additional staff of various grades will be required to support this.

In order to implement savings measures on public service numbers the Government decided, with effect from 27 March 2009 to the end of 2010, that no post in the public sector, however it arises, may be filled by recruitment, promotion or payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade. The decision applies to all grades of permanent and temporary staff, including nursing, notwithstanding a number of specific exemptions. It has been modulated to ensure key services are maintained in so far as is possible in the health service, particularly in respect of children at risk, older people and persons with a disability.

A business case was submitted to the Department of Health and Children in November 2009 by the HSE on the opening of the Knockamann development. As nursing staff are not a derogated grade under the current moratorium on recruitment in public services, specific sanction is required to fill the posts. Having considered the business case, the Department requested some supplementary information, particularly on the skills mix of posts required. It is anticipated that this will be forwarded to the Department shortly.

The Department is working closely with the HSE to endeavour to resolve this matter within the resources available to us at this time. I will convey the Senator's thoughts on the issue to the Minister directly.

Brendan Ryan (Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State. I am conscious that he is delivering the response on behalf of another Minister. We hear many examples of the effect of the recruitment embargo such as libraries in Malahide and Rush not being open. That is not acceptable, given that money has been spent on these facilities. We must not let this affect the delivery of much-needed services to the members of a most vulnerable group in our society, the intellectually disabled. It is a disgrace that we would build a much-awaited unit at great expense and then not open it. While I note the Minister of State's comments, they are not reassuring. It seems this will be an endless process, with the Minister of State referring to the seeking of further information. We must have speedy delivery. It is a shame that the development is lying idle when so much money has been spent on it and the service users need the service urgently. I urge the Minister of State to progress the issue as swiftly as possible.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I will be happy to raise the matter with the Minister on behalf of the Senator.