Bernard Allen
Question:101 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the immediate plans envisaged to provide the urgently required additional nurses at St. Mary's in Drumcar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3305/03]
Other Questions. - Mental Health Services.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:126 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children the discussions he has had regarding the situation at St. Mary's Residential Care Centre, Drumcar, County Louth; and the action he proposes to take in view of the report of conditions for residents there. [3462/03]
Pat Rabbitte
Question:155 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to recent reports of the conditions which patients at St. Mary's, Drumcar, County Louth, have had to endure due to staff shortages; the steps he is taking to provide sufficient staff to ensure that all such patients can be held in conditions of safety and dignity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3415/03]
Olivia Mitchell
Question:338 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the immediate plans envisaged to provide the urgently required additional nurses at St. Mary's in Drumcar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3339/03]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 101, 126, 155 and 338 together.
Statutory responsibility for the provision of intellectual disability services, including the funding of the Drumcar service, lies with the North-Eastern Health Board in the first instance. The particular problems outlined in the review of staffing levels at Drumcar have been the subject of discussions between my Department, representatives of the North-Eastern Health Board and representatives of the St. John of God Hospitaller Services who manage the service at Drumcar.
These discussions were adjourned last week and are due to resume tomorrow. The objective of my Department in these discussions is to ensure that the range of issues raised in the consultants' report on the Drumcar service will be addressed by the parties concerned without unnecessary delay. My Department will keep this matter under ongoing review. I am confident that progress is being made.
For many years Drumcar was under the direct remit of the Department of Health and Children. Does the Minister accept that it was effectively a dumping ground for disabled persons who were not wanted by anybody and not wanted by any health board? When the Celtic tiger arrived was it not the moral responsibility of the Government to ensure that it was properly resourced and funded before it was handed over to the North-Eastern Health Board? The people who were forgotten by society were tied up and locked up and those caring for them were not given proper resources and were forced to work under those conditions. Has the Minister of State no sense of shame? He comes to the House and says that this is a matter for the parties concerned. How will they do it and where is the money coming from? How much money will the Minister of State give to the North-Eastern Health Board to ensure that it can do something about the situation in Drumcar?
The Minister of State will recall that this was raised as a matter on the Adjournment in the past ten days. From personal experience I disagree with the view that this was a dumping ground. It would be sad that the excellent service given by the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God at Drumcar would be so categorised. Nevertheless, the kernel of what Deputy Mitchell says is very important. There is undoubtedly a failure of the Department to recognise that it is not within the gift of the North-Eastern Health Board, as I emphasised to the Minister of State on the last occasion we addressed it here. I am a member of that health board and I am aware of the absence of funding—
A question, please, Deputy.
The Minister of State has not given the House a substantive account of the deliberations between the board, the Department and the representatives of St. John of God. Will the Minister of State undertake to this House—
We are coming to the end of Question Time, Deputy.
—to engage the necessary additional night staff? There are 30 required in order to address the very serious and dangerous situation that applies at night. Will the Minister of State—
Deputy Ó Caoláin, the purpose of Question Time is to elicit information from the Minister, not to make a statement.
I would hope those are recognised as questions by the Minister of State.
As I told Deputy Ó Caoláin on the Adjournment last week, discussions were taking place. As I said a few moments ago, those discussions are continuing. As the Deputy is used to negotiations, he will know that there are three parties to these discussions. I am not at liberty to say what stage we are at. I can tell the Deputy that it is not just about money. Those of us who have read the report must also reflect on some of the practices in that institution. Changes of attitudes and changes in the management structures must be considered. I am happy that progress is being made in the negotiations. I do not wish to say any more about the negotiations because I could pre-empt the end result and neither the Deputy nor I would be happy with that. I agree with the Deputy and I refute the term "dumping ground".
The Minister of State uses it.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.