Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to the House.

Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail)
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I believe the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has a prior engagement so the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is very welcome in her stead. I tabled this Commencement matter to get some clarity on the record regarding what is happening with Sruthán House. The Minister of State and I know so many families affected by closures of adult day services and adult respite services over the course of the pandemic. As we all know, it was a really difficult time for so many people. I wanted to ensure accurate information was made available and to find out why respite services at Sruthán House were and remain closed. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and her officials have done great work over the past number of months. Like all respite services, Sruthán House was a lifeline for so many people. I have been in contact with families with regard to Sruthán House going back to my days as a member of Louth County Council and have worked with Department officials since I entered this House in order to make sure we have adult respite services in Dundalk and north Louth.

When the pandemic hit, like all respite services, the service at Sruthán House was closed. It did not reopen because the building was not suitable due to social distancing requirements. We have really positive news this week. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's response and hope she can give the House details of the new adult respite service in Dundalk, the facilities, the timelines for connecting with individuals who wish to use the services, when they will get to see the building and, more importantly, when will they get to use it.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for raising this important issue for discussion today. Given her absence on official duties, I will provide an update on the matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. The HSE has advised that due to public health advice issued at the onset of the Covid pandemic, an environmental risk assessment was carried out at Sruthán House to establish the suitability of the facility.That assessment established that the facility presented an unacceptably high level of risk for respite care. These risks included insufficient space in the premises to implement required infection control measures insufficient space in specific areas to comply with social distancing guidelines between service users due to layout, and non-compliance with national public health emergency team guidelines if service users were to attend for respite.

The HSE has confirmed the provision of outreach and alternative respite has continued while Sruthán House is closed to respite. The Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities fully appreciates the concerns of service users and their families in respect of this closure, and it is an issue the HSE has been working to resolve. The Minister acknowledges the advocacy of Senator McGreehan, who has advocated for this premises for many years, including when she was a councillor, as she stated. I know it is very dear to her heart and it is great we have positive news today. I thank her for all the work she has done, along with the other local representatives, in calling for a solution to be found to this matter. Indeed, the issue of Sruthán House was raised with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, during her visit to Dundalk and the Cooley Peninsula on Monday.

In this context, I can inform the House that the HSE, through its Louth disability service, is in discussions with a provider to develop alternative suitable accommodation to deliver this service. I am pleased to report the HSE has advised that a location has been sourced and is currently undergoing renovation works to ensure HIQA compliance. It is anticipated the works will be completed shortly, allowing the service to be recommenced by the end of the first quarter of 2022, that is, by the end of this month. That is really positive for the service users. The HSE has confirmed it has plans to issue communications with relevant details to service users and their families this week. I trust this clarifies the issue for the Senator and the House.

Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. It is very positive news. I congratulate and thank the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, Deputy Rabbitte, and the officials for pulling out all the stops to ensure we have an adult respite service in County Louth. However, it would be remiss of me not to ask for more while I have the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in front of me. We have this facility in north Louth. I ask the Minister of State to bring back to her colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, the need to look into opening a second respite service in County Louth. It may be the smallest county - the wee county - but it has the two largest towns in the country and a population of more than 130,000 people. All present know there is a significant need for adult and child respite services throughout the country. I hope that ask will go to disability services in CHO 8 to review and consider possibilities for a respite service in south Louth, given its catchment area close to County Meath and north Dublin. There is large geographic scope for another respite service in the south of the county.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In responding to the Senator, I wish to provide assurance on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities that the Government remains focused on providing the best services we can for children and adults with disabilities, including respite or residential care, therapeutic interventions, day services fit for the 21st century, and independent living supports. The priority is always to ensure the health and well-being of people with disabilities.

The HSE has assured the Minister that the provision of outreach and alternative respite has continued while Sruthán House is closed to respite. The Minister has also received assurance that the HSE midlands-Louth disability service is engaging with a service provider to develop an alternative suitable accommodation to deliver this service. While recognising that people have had to wait a considerable time and this has caused stress and concern, the Minister is pleased the HSE is now in a position to provide positive news in respect of the necessary measures to ensure an appropriate service is delivered to the local community. It is anticipated the service will be delivered by the end of quarter 1 of 2022. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has committed to returning to County Louth at that stage and joining the Senator to open the service officially.

I note the Senator referred to north Louth and the need for a second respite centre. I probably do not even have to bring that request back to the Minister of State because I am sure the Senator has already addressed that issue with her, but I will do so. I assure the House that the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities remains ambitious in her vision for the provision of disability services for people of all ages in the coming years.