Seanad debates

Wednesday, 19 June 2019

Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters

Services for People with Disabilities

10:30 am

Photo of Robbie GallagherRobbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State back to the Chamber and thank him for taking time out of his schedule to be here.

I want to talk about the Drumconrath healthcare facility in County Meath. Caridas House was part of the facility which was operated by the HSE. It was a residential care centre for people with disabilities. Its recent closure affords the HSE an opportunity to expand services further at the location. The facility has two or three GPs who are working full-time and provide an excellent service not only for the people of Drumconrath but also the people of north Meath generally and as far away as Carrickmacross, County Monaghan and Kingscourt, County Cavan. I am thinking about additional clinics being made available for people living in the area. For example, a public health nurse could be located there a few days a week or a social worker could be included, with mental health and physiotherapy services, among many others. I hope the HSE will take on the task of exploring what services could be put in place for the benefit of the people living in Drumconrath, north Meath and as far away as Kingscourt, County Cavan and Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. I look forward to hearing the response of the Minister of State. This is about providing additional health services for the people living in these areas.

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to respond on it.

The Government’s ongoing priority is the safeguarding of vulnerable persons in the care of the health service. We are committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives.

Significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services in recent years. This year alone, the Health Service Executive, HSE, has allocated €1.9 billion for its disability services programme. As part of its ongoing service provision, the HSE will provide more than 8,500 residential places this year for families in need throughout the country. In fact, residential services make up the largest part of the disability budget.

Residential placements for adults with disabilities are considered following detailed clinical assessments made by HSE services. Access to places for those with the most complex needs are allocated on a priority basis and appropriate availability of services. Regarding the centre mentioned by the Senator, I am advised by the HSE that Caridas House is a small bungalow situated on the grounds of the health centre in Drumconrath, County Meath. In 2018 the HSE decided to review continued service provision in Caridas House based on the service experiencing challenges in meeting the needs of families and service users. I understand the rural location, small house size, perceived poor access to community activities and a lack of public transport were key factors in that regard. The decision was based on the premise that moving the residents to an alternative community residential home operated by the HSE's disability services would ensure they would maintain or improve the quality of their lives and, furthermore, that they would continue to be supported by staff known to them.

During 2018 and into this year, numerous meetings were organised by the HSE with the families of the two individuals who were resident in Caridas House to discuss the future plans for the facility and its residents.I understand that just one client remains as a resident of the facility, and in fact the person concerned is moving to an appropriate community residential home with immediate effect. It is still the case that international evidence demonstrates that the outcomes for individuals are always better in the community, and Government policy is for people with disabilities to be supported to achieve their full potential so that, where possible, they can live ordinary lives, in ordinary places, doing ordinary things.

Future plans for the building are a matter for the HSE. My understanding is that the building, when vacated, will need to be assessed by the HSE as to its suitability for any further use.

Photo of Gerry HorkanGerry Horkan (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call the Senator, I want to welcome to Seanad Éireann all our visitors from the Holy Trinity National School in Leopardstown. I am sure that the Minister and Senator Gallagher will join me in that welcome and in hoping that they have a nice day here today.

Photo of Robbie GallagherRobbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I too extend a warm welcome to our visitors and hope they have a very enjoyable day.

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. We realise that things have moved on with the care facility; it has closed down and people accept that. The two most important lines come at the end of the statement and are about future plans. That is what I want to talk about this morning. There is potential for the HSE to bring additional services to that community, and I would like the Minister to stress to the HSE the importance of bringing additional GP-led services to the facility in Drumcondra for the benefit of the entire area.

Photo of Jim DalyJim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for highlighting the importance of the availability of a resource such as this to the HSE, and ensuring that focus is kept not just on the ending of one service but the beginning of a new one. These facilities have cost a lot of money, and communities have invested a lot through fundraising. It is important that they are maintained into the future as part of the service delivery. I will echo the Senator's sentiments to the HSE that we would like a plan for this facility to be put in place as soon as is practicable and possible.

Photo of Gerry HorkanGerry Horkan (Fianna Fail)
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Senator MacLochlainn was supposed to be present to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, about the dispute relating to fishing rights and Rockall. As neither of them is present, we will move on to Senator Burke.