Arranmore Island, with a population of over 600, is the most populated island off the Donegal coast and the second most populated island in the country. There are two primary schools on Arranmore which are about to be amalgamated, a secondary school under the auspices of Donegal VEC, a resident priest, doctor and nurse. There is also a daily efficient and regular ferry service from Burtonport and a progressive island co-operative, Comharchumann Oileán Árainn Mhór. Of all the Donegal islands one could say that Arranmore has the highest number of essential services.
A day centre for the elderly was established on the island some years ago and is providing an excellent service for its senior citizens. However, one necessary facility is absent, a community nursing unit to provide full-time care for those who need it and respite breaks for people looking after elderly relations.
In a recent report on developing health services on the islands, the North-Western Health Board, in relation to Arranmore, stated: "there is a need to provide a facility for elderly persons requiring nursing care". This objective is understandable when one analyses the demographic trends on Arranmore. There are 141 persons over the age of 65 living on the island, 40 of whom are over 80 years. There are 38 persons over the age of 65 living alone, more than ten of whom are either housebound or bedbound, living alone or with another elderly relative. A further three people under the age of 65 are in that same situation. These facts are more than adequate to prove the need for a community nursing unit.
Island people throughout the world become particularly attached to their island homes, especially as they grow older. The magical lure of the surrounding seas is almost an essential element of their lives. To transfer them from their island environment to nursing units on the mainland is almost cruel. They are being removed from lifelong friends, acquaintances and family to a foreign and, to them, often friendless environment. This leads to feelings of isolation. Visits from family and friends become sporadic and intermittent due to travel difficulties and there is ample evidence that such an unacceptable solution shortens their lives. The senior citizens of Arranmore Island are entitled to nursing care facilities on their island where they can maintain contact with their own environment and lifelong friends.
Institutions such as the Church, the Department of Education and Science, the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and others have already recognised that essential services should be provided for Arranmore people on their island home. It is now the turn of the Department of Health and Children to act. The islanders and particularly their co-operative have not been idle. An imaginative and viable development plan has been prepared and costed to meet the requirement of a nursing unit. A straightforward extension to the existing day care centre, providing eight beds, would be adequate to meet the need that exists. The estimated cost of the plan is just in excess of £70,000, a small and reasonable price for such a necessary facility.
There are up to eight trained nurses on the island, with experience at home and abroad, who would be able and willing to provide the nursing care necessary for the new unit. Island people have a reputation for kindness and concern for their elderly. The provision of an eight bed unit as an extension to the day centre would harness that kindness and concern and would provide the ultimate in care for those who need it in their final days on Arranmore Island.
I ask the Minister of State to provide the necessary resources to the North-Western Health Board so this facility can be provided as soon as possible.
