Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

111. To ask the Minister for Health when irregularities and concerns first came to or were brought to his attention and that of the Health Service Executive in the matter of a charity (details supplied); the steps that were taken or reviews carried out; the documentation available on these reviews; the safeguards that have been put in place to ensure the continuation of the services provided by this charity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20608/16]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Console is one of the charities funded in part through the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention, to provide counselling, therapy and support services to people who have been bereaved by suicide.

In 2009 concern was raised in the HSE in relation to cash flow issues in Console. The Department of Health was notified in writing. An attached briefing indicated that the HSE was confident that the matters raised would be resolved.

In 2011, an official in the mental Health Unit of the Department was made aware of an allegation that the CEO of Console had impersonated a doctor in Baggot St Hospital. The Concern CEO advised that the impersonation had been a “prank” in his student days some 30 years earlier and that this had been dealt with in Court at the time where the Probation Act was applied

A revised Governance Framework was put in place by the HSE in 2014 and this is followed in respect of all organisations funded by it.

The HSE audit into Console was initiated in April 2015 by the National Office for Suicide Prevention following an examination of the 2013 returns from Console to the HSE, which were received in late 2014. The HSE has confirmed that concerns arose in a number of areas, including in relation to the corporate governance and financial management of the agency. The HSE advised the Department of Health of this on 17th June 2015, providing an update to the Department in December 2015. It later reported this case to the Garda Síochána in February 2016. On 15th April 2016, the HSE Director of Mental Health provided a briefing to the Department of Health on the status of this report. On 24th June 2016, the audit report was finalised and a copy was sent to the HSE’s Mental Health Division and to the Department of Health on 1st July 2016.

While this is a serious matter that needs to be comprehensively investigated, it is of equal importance that the valuable services offered by Console are not adversely affected. The HSE has informed my Department that it has not uncovered any issues with the standard of the Console services funded by the Executive. However, the issues uncovered by the audit are extremely serious and require detailed consideration to ensure that services are delivered in future under the most appropriate governance and financial frameworks. Consideration by the HSE of alternative service options has been underway in parallel with the audit process.