Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I warmly welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. I understand he is staying with us for the next three Commencement matters.

Imelda Goldsboro (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach and welcome the Minister of State here today to discuss this important issue.

I speak on behalf of the board of Cluain Training and Enterprise Centre in Clonmel which is located across from the courthouse in Nelson Street. The Cluain Training and Enterprise Centre provides specialist training supports and employment services for adults with mental health needs, acquired brain injuries or who are on the autism spectrum. Services include rehab training focusing on positive health and social inclusion, vocational training focusing on preparation for and progression to employment or further education, day services, and social enterprise activities. It also provides employment for people with numerous other issues who are living and working in and around Clonmel and south Tipperary. It allows them to integrate within the community to reach their full potential.

The centre provides support to more than 70 trainees through a variety of programmes and employs 21 staff, full and part time. Since 2019, however, the centre has struggled financially to maintain its current level of service provision. This is primarily due to a change in the funding model which supported service delivery in the centre. While much of the funding has been provided through the disability budget, the mental health budget must also meet its responsibility to provide funding for this excellent training centre facility.

I thank Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for recently visiting this centre and taking the opportunity to see first hand the great work it is doing, the training provided and the beautiful arts, crafts and products made by the users of this facility. I also acknowledge the great work carried out by the board and ask the Minister of State to engage positively in providing funding to ensure the sustainability and ongoing services in this centre and to ensure they are secure.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Goldsboro for raising this important matter in the Seanad this afternoon. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler.

As the Senator stated, just last month, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, had the opportunity to visit Cluain Training and Enterprise Centre in Clonmel. It is a model of best practice on how we support people with disabilities, acquired brain injuries and mental health challenges. The centre provides a wide range of services, including many different training opportunities, day services and activities to foster social enterprise. These programmes are free of charge to participants and, crucially, are tailored to meet the needs of each person who attends the centre.

During the Minister of State's visit, she was struck by the centre's deep commitment to person-centred support. Staff worked closely with each trainee to identify their goals and aspirations, including progressing to further education, preparing for employment or building confidence and social skills. Training programmes on offer are accredited at QQI level 3 and provide a clear pathway for participants to move forward in their lives with dignity and purpose. The Cluain centre also plays an important role in promoting positive mental health and inclusion in the local community. Anyone who attends the centre is seen, heard and supported. The centre’s social enterprise activities, in particular, offer meaningful engagement and a sense of contribution to the wider community. It is a place of hope, opportunity and real transformation. Following the visit, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, asked her officials in the mental health section to engage directly with the head of disability services in the region, who was also present on the day, to develop a joined-up, comprehensive plan for the centre’s future, which is what the Senator called for in her contribution.

The Cluain centre has historically been funded and managed through HSE disability services. HSE disability services are actively supporting the Cluain training centre in relation to funding and quality standards for new directions. In addition, in 2024 and for the majority of 2023, disability services have also provided a full-time staff resource to enable the Cluain training centre to meet day service standards and sustainability. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, firmly believes the mental health budget must also contribute. The programmes delivered by Cluain reflect our shared responsibilities to the people participating in them and we must reflect that in how we resource services. Centres like Cluain are the backbone of community-based care. They deserve our full support.

Imelda Goldsboro (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for that very positive reply. I look forward to seeing the outcome in the coming weeks and I hope we will be able to give good news to those in this facility. I note that the reply refers to a place of hope, opportunity and real transformation. For those who have issues, it gives them an opportunity to get up in the morning. It gives them a sense of purpose, meaning and belonging in today's society to see the work that they have carried out. Most importantly, it is free of charge. For those service users such a service is priceless. I welcome the great news and look forward to relaying to them that the funding can be sourced to sustain this wonderful facility.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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As stated, I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Deputy Mary Butler. I thank Senator Goldsboro for raising this important matter. I assure the House that we understand the value of work being done in the Cluain centre. It is a good example of person-centred community-based care at its best, offering a pathway to greater independence and inclusion by ensuring that no one is left behind.

As I said in my opening statement, while the majority of funding comes from the disability budget, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is committed to ensuring the mental health budget also plays its part. She will be working to secure a service level agreement in the context of the upcoming Estimates process to make sure that the Cluain centre receives the sustainable multi-stream funding it needs. The Minister of State will also meet with the integrated health area manager for Tipperary next week in Clonmel and intends to raise the matter directly with them during the meeting. I assure the Senator that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, fully supports the Cluain centre and is determined to secure the sustainable funding it needs to continue its vital work. I again thank Senator Goldsboro for raising this important issue today.