Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the presence of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, to take this matter. It is an important issue for all of those impacted. Day centres provide a valuable service in the communities and towns in which they operate. We saw during Covid the negative impact the closure of day care centres had for older people. In this instance I am talking about the Allenwood day care centre, which is located in the Ballyteague GAA centre. It is a fabulous place in the middle of nature. It really provided a great space for people to have recreational time outside as well as in. This was operated by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and Albert Perris and his team provided a professional service with great empathy and support. It was a place I had an opportunity to visit many times, so I can attest to the wonderful service given there. Thirty-seven people have been going to this day care centre. Approximately one third of them sadly have dementia, but the families really noticed the huge improvement when they started attending the day care service up to three days per week. It ran five days per week and provided meals on wheels. Unfortunately, ten weeks ago this coming Thursday, the service closed. There was a disagreement with regard to the move to a new centre in the nearby village of Kilmeage. However, instead of having a negotiated transition, what happened was that the board was told it had to leave and the service stopped.To be fair to the HSE, it said it would step in and provide the service directly. It is important to note that. However, the fact that ten weeks later we have nothing in place is really wrong.

Of the 37 people affected, four have now gone into a nursing home and two are in hospital. The families are seeing a very negative impact. As we know, daycare centres are about socialisation, stimulation, the opportunity to meet neighbours and friends and spend time with people we have known all of our lives. The HSE said it would consider a transfer to nearby daycare centres in Newbridge and Naas, but this is not something that suits local people. The communities of Allenwood and Ballyteague are devastated by this. I have to pay tribute to Karen Gorey, who is spearheading the campaign.

We need the HSE to act. There is a service provider ready to step in and provide that service, but I understand it is being held up by some red tape in terms of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul reviewing its service level agreement. The Minister of State could make an order that the new service provider could move in straight away and provide what is a very much needed service in a place with which people in Ballyteague are familiar. The new centre in Kilmeague will not be ready until the summer. Leaving a gap from before Christmas to summertime is simply not good enough. I ask the Minister of State to use his good services and influence to ensure that this issue is solved.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this important matter. She will appreciate that the new programme for Government has highlighted the importance of community services for older people to assist them to remain independent and live in their homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible. Many older people living at home rely on services that they receive through day centres and the outreach these centres provide, which often includes meals on wheels.

As the Senator referenced, Allenwood daycare centre is a HSE-funded service in Kildare. It is managed and operated by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul through a service level arrangement for daycare and meals on wheels services in Allenwood and the surrounding area. In December 2024, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul issued a temporary notice of closure to the people who use the service and notified the HSE older persons services accordingly. The HSE reports that 34 people were affected - the Senator mentioned 37 - by the notified closure. I fully appreciate that the closure has caused considerable upset to the people who use the service. The Senator referenced people like Karen Gorey and many others have contacted me. The Minister, Deputy Martin Heydon, has been in communication with me. Councillor Brendan Wyse also contacted me about the closure. The centre is hugely important for the community.

The HSE older persons section contacted all people affected by the closure, offering them an alternative daycare place from 28 January. Engagement is ongoing. The HSE actively sources transport to assist clients to travel to other day centres. I note the reservations the Senator has highlighted in that regard. I am also advised that everyone has been offered a meals on wheels service. Furthermore, the HSE is also examining the possibility of engaging new providers to deliver the service. I instructed my officials to contact the HSE and seek to expedite the engagement of a new provider to deliver the service.

As a private voluntary organisation, decisions about the closure of the service and the employment of staff rest with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. It has advised the HSE that it is currently conducting an internal review of the service and the HSE is awaiting the outcome of that review. It is understood that the decision to close is not related to the availability of funding from the HSE.

In the meantime, it is essential that people who rely on the service are provided with reasonable alternatives. Senator O'Loughlin referred to Ballyteague GAA club, which is where the Allenwood service is located. As I have stated, as well as working to find places in other services for those affected, the HSE is examining the possibility of engaging new providers to deliver the service. That is something I have asked my officials to look at expediting. I know the impact it is having on people and their families. I am new to the role, but I have made a lot of inquiries about this matter. I know the impact of the lack of services on people.

In the longer term, it is planned that the day service would move to Kilmeague Health Centre. Refurbishment works are currently under way and are expected to be completed by June 2025. The HSE continues to seek engagement updates from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul on this matter. The matter the Senator has highlighted is that a service was in place which was of huge benefit to local people and their families. I have asked the HSE, through my departmental officials, to consider extensively the possibility of engaging a new provider to deliver the service.

Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his empathy and understanding. I appreciate he is new to his role. I also appreciate that he has taken the time to look into this.

I find it incredible that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is holding this process up by conducting an internal review. The fact is that service users and their families are being let down. That decision should be superseded by the HSE and the Minister of State. I mentioned Karen Gorey, who is spearheading this campaign. She has written to the Minister of State to seek a meeting. I ask him to ensure the meeting takes place. We could have the meeting in Government Buildings, Leinster House, Allenwood or Kilmeague. This service is of vital importance. I want the Minister of State to understand that this is a critical issue that needs to be resolved as soon as possible, before June. We need to provide that much-needed service to those who need it.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I once again thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this issue. As I said, the service in Allenwood has been very important to communities. It is essential that people who are affected by the closure are accommodated quickly. It is important that there is good communication between the HSE and the service provider and the people who have been affected and their families.

As Minister of State with responsibility for older people, I am conscious of the significant contribution made by day centres like Allenwood across the country to support older people living in communities. I appreciate the considerable upset the closure has caused to the people who use the service. As I have stated, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is conducting an internal review and the HSE is awaiting its outcome. I note the points the Senator raised. The decision to close is not related to the availability of funding from the HSE.

In the meantime, it is essential that people who rely on the service are provided with reasonable alternatives, as I stated. As well as working to find places in other services, the HSE is examining the possibility of engaging a new provider to deliver the service. Through my officials, I have asked the HSE to expedite that. I am available to meet anyone. The Senator has written to me and I will set up a meeting. I understand Karen Gorey wrote to my predecessor. I am taking up the issue. It is something we can discuss again. The most important thing is to try to get a resolution to this as quickly as possible for the people who use the Allenwood service.