I am disappointed that the Minister for Health and Children is not in the House. This is a matter for which he has primary responsibility. The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, has secondary responsibility. It is unfortunate that neither Minister is in attendance.
I am concerned at the decision of the South Western Area Health Board to close the successful City Lodge facility. The decision has worrying implications for the clients who have been resident there for some time. City Lodge, which has been open for three years, was established originally as an emergency facility for children who were on the streets or exhibited chaotic behaviour. It quickly proved to be very successful and developed into a medium to long term care service. The facility developed what could be described as a reasonably liberal regime to accommodate the chaotic nature of its clients. It had the added advantage of round-the-clock nursing cover which was important given the drug problems of some clients. Last year, the facility was inspected by the health board's inspectorate which recommended its relocation from its unsuitable premises while acknowledging the success of the service. To date, no plans have been brought forward by any health board in the eastern region to relocate the service and provide a similar service elsewhere.
I raise the case of one young person who has been in the care of the State for most of his life. In recent years, this 17 year old boy's difficulties have included a problem with heroin. The child's case has been before the courts on a number of recent occasions and has been covered in the media. The boy in question was doing well in the centre when, for purely administrative reasons, a decision was made somewhere within the health board to close the facility and provide an alternative placement. In reply to a question I submitted to the Minister for Health and Children a couple of weeks ago, I was told that suitable alternative placements had been identified for all clients. I challenge that. In the case of the 17 year old boy in question, a suitable alternative was not found. One must bear in mind that this young person experienced very serious difficulties in trying to cope over an extended period. He has been in care for a long time. He was used to a relatively secure setting which was stable, safe and supportive and which met his needs. He was making considerable progress.
The alternative placement provided was the caretaker hostel which is very much an emergency service. Its intended purpose was to provide respite for children who could not engage with services from life on the streets. It is by no means a suitable place for someone used to being in and progressing in a stable environment. Young people are required to be in the facility by 8.15 p.m. to book a bed on a nightly basis. Nightly booking is hardly the basis of a stable environment for a young person. They must leave the facility by 9.30 a.m. That is completely unsuitable for the young person in question, but it was all that was on offer to him when the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, said last week that a suitable alternative placement had been found. That was rubbish.
Since the question I submitted was answered, the case has been before the courts on a couple of occasions. When Focus Ireland, which originally offered the place, realised it was unsuitable, it withdrew the offer. Focus Ireland has made the alternative offer of a placement in the off-the-streets facility. None of the representatives of the young man in question have had a chance to assess the offer yet.
I am concerned that decisions on care for young people are taken on an ad hoc basis. The decisions are being taken on the basis of administrative concerns rather than concern for the young people. The health boards, overseen by the Minister responsible, are getting into a habit of delaying the process of formulating proper care plans for young people until that person gets close to 18 years of age, at which point the board can wash its hands of all responsibility. By standing over such a regime, the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and the Minister, Deputy Martin, are seriously reneging on their statutory responsibility for providing care for these young people. The regime is completely ad hoc and inadequate for meeting the statutory needs of the young people concerned.