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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 7 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Care of the Elderly.

Almost three years have passed since I last debated the proposed Arranmore nursing care unit in the Dáil. On that occasion the Minister of State, Deputy Moffatt, stated that he would look at the provision of services for the elderly on the island. Hopefully he will respond again this evening. After careful investigation and assessment, the North Western Health Board sanctioned an eight bed nursing respite unit for the island. The board's decision was warmly welcomed and appreciated by the inhabitants of the island as it was expected that work would commence on the project by August or September 2000. Since then, progress has been at a snail's pace. Many islanders are unhappy, anxious and concerned at the lack of significant development on the unit's provision.

Arranmore Island, with a population of about 600, is the most populated island off the Donegal coast. There are two primary schools, a successful secondary school under the auspices of Donegal VEC and a resident priest, doctor and nurse. There is also a daily and efficient ferry service from Burtonport and a progressive and efficient island co-operative, known as Comharchumann Oileán Árainn Mhór Teoranta. A day service unit for the elderly was established on the island some years ago and provides an excellent service for senior citizens. Accommodation in the centre includes day rooms, kitchen, doctor's surgery, dental surgery, consulting rooms and accommodation for visiting health professionals. There is also an ambulance which provides day centre transport. The day centre is open during the week and caters for approximately 70 to 80 people. The centre is run by Arranmore Social Services Committee in co-operation with North Western Health Board and is providing an excellent service for the elderly of the island.

When one analyses the demographic trends on Arranmore, the urgent need to provide a facility for elderly persons requiring nursing care becomes glaringly obvious. There are approximately 130 persons over the age of 65 living on the island. About 30 are more than 80 years of age. There are 35 to 40 persons over the age of 65 living alone, some of them house-bound or bed-bound. These figures illustrate the need for a nursing unit on the island.

Island people become particularly attached to their island homes. The magical lure of the surrounding seas is an almost essential element in their lives. To transfer them from their island environment to nursing units on the mainland is unacceptable. Having been removed from lifelong friends, acquaintances and family to a foreign and, to them, often friendless environment 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 situation shortens their lives.

Senior citizens in Arranmore Island are entitled to nursing care facilities on their own island where they can maintain contact with their own environment and lifelong friends. I appeal to the Minister to do everything possible to expedite the provision of the unit that has already been sanctioned for Arranmore Island. Mar fhocal scoir, a Cheann Comhairle, Arranmore Island is a Gaeltacht island. Oileán Gaeltachta é. Tá suas le 600 duine ina gcónaí ann. Tá oideachas maith á chur ar fáil do dhaltaí an oileáin ar bhunscoil agus ar iar-bhunscoil. Tá ionad lae ag freastal ar shean daoine ar an oileán ach is cinnte go bhfuil easnamh mór amháin ann, sé sin ionad banaltrais. Cé go bhfuil an t-ionad geallta le breis is bliain is beag an dul chun cinn atá déanta ó shin agus tá mé ag iarraidh ar an Aire Stáit brú a chur ar an bhord sláinte dul ar aghaidh leis na socruithe láithreach sa dóigh go mbeidh ionad banaltrais ar fáil ar an oileán gan mhoill. Go raibh maith agat a Cheann Chomhairle

I thank Deputy McGinley for raising this issue on the Adjournment. The provision of health services to older people living on Arranmore Island is the responsibility of the North Western Health Board. In recent years, my Department has provided considerable additional revenue funding to the board to improve services to older people. This funding amounted to £2.2 million in 2000 and £3.8 million this year and the board was enabled to improve services both in the community and in hospitals. I mention, in particular, the opening of a new community nursing unit in Killybegs.

At present, a day care unit is run on the island by the Arranmore Social Services Committee, in co-operation with the North Western Health Board. The board provides more than 90% of the funding. The day centre caters for approximately 80 older people, and services provided include the following: transport, meals, laundry, social activities, including crafts, games and leisure, GP and public health nurse services, baths, information and advice, library facilities, and other health service facilities.

In response to recommendations of the Interdepartmental Co-ordinating Committee on Island Development in 1996, the North Western Health Board set up an island review group to conduct a comprehensive review of health needs and service provision to island communities. The island review group recommended, in its service development plan, 1999, for Arranmore Island, the provision of a small nursing unit of six to eight beds. Several meetings took place between members of this committee, representatives of the island community, the resident GP and public health nurse. Architects were engaged and draft plans were produced in consultation with committee members and representatives of the island community for the provision of this unit. It is planned to develop the unit on the site of the existing health-day care centre. However, recommendations from the architects suggest that the present site will not accommodate a development of this size. The board is currently seeking to make contact with a private land owner who owns land adjacent to the health-day care centre. Although the land owner, at present, lives outside the country, it is hoped contact will be made over the forthcoming weeks, with a view to purchasing the necessary land. A home-based carers support-respite scheme has been provided on the island since 1998. During 2000, 26 people were in receipt of this service, at an annual cost of £78,000. The scheme continues to be provided in 2001.

Specific funding being made available to the North Western Health board to deliver a comprehensive capital programme, in the period 2001-06, inclusive, under the national development plan, includes a sum of more than £13 million in respect of services for older people. Progress on the Arranmore nursing unit will depend on its priority rating by the North Western Health Board, among the projects to be undertaken within the budget provided.

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