Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 Apr 1997

Vol. 478 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Barrett Cheshire Home.

Mr. E. Ryan:

Barrett Cheshire Home in Herbert Street has done extraordinary work for people down through the years. That organisation also does good work throughout the country and in other countries. It recently had an opportunity to acquire a property beside its premises. The owner of that property was willing and able to lease it at a very reasonable price. It was also told it could get a grant from the Department of the Environment. As the home has undertaken a large residential care project in Blackrock, it could not meet the shortfall of £60,000 and applied to the Department of Health, but its application was refused.

It was thought that the building was no longer available, but it has come to light that it is available.Considering this organisation's record, the great work it does and the great demand there is for places in it, I ask the Minister of State to give this matter careful consideration. If the home was given a grant of £65,000, it could provide full-time residential care for six or seven people. That represents good value for money. As the Minister of State is aware, there is a great demand for such care. The home is anxious to obtain the necessary money to enable it acquire this building to provide six full-time residential care places in additional to their existing facilities. This is a simple matter and one the home is anxious to act on.

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr. Currie):

I am glad to have the opportunity to clarify the position about this proposal. No direct approach was made to me, the Minister or to my Department seeking funds for the proposed extension to the Barrett Cheshire Home, nor has the home discussed the proposal with the Eastern Health Board. I understand an approach was made to my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Quinn, for a one-off capital grant for the project.

The Department has already made available to the Barrett Cheshire Home through the Eastern Health Board a capital grant of £300,000 for the building of an independent living hostel in Blackrock, Country Dublin, which is expected to be completed this year. Revenue funding of £50,000 has also been made available from this year to enable this unit to be put into operation.

I suggest that the Barrett Cheshire Home discuss with the Eastern Health Board any proposal such as this for the development of its services so that the board can assess the proposal in the context of its priorities for the development of services in the region. Moreover, there is in the Eastern Health Board a co-ordinating committee on services for people with physical disabilities on which the Cheshire Homes are represented. Any proposal for the development of these services must be discussed by that committee so that it can be prioritised for development by agreement with the health board and other voluntary agencies in the health board region.

I and the Minister are fully appreciative of the excellent service to people with physical disabilities throughout the country which the Cheshire Homes provide. An indication of our support for the homes is the allocation to six of them this year of a total of £320,000 additional revenue.