Topical Issue Debate

Mental Health Services Provision

Deputy Denis Naughten

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this and I thank the Ceann Comhairle for accepting this Topical Issue. I also thank the Minister, Deputy Reilly, for being present to respond on this important issue.

A litany of failures was identified in an internal health and safety audit of the acute psychiatric unit of University Hospital Galway which was carried out on 4 June last. It is clear from reading the report that the unit is an accident waiting to happen. The report points out that one-fifth of the staff are not complying with mandatory training in aggression and violence, and that as a result of recent cost containment, not all staff have attended, or been given the opportunity to attend, the mandatory training. The report also highlights problems with conditions in the facility, including the perennial problem with leaks in the roof which led to a water mark close to electrical connections at one location. It further highlights that a bed has been removed in another part of the unit because of the leaking roof.

However, it is not just one bed. A number of beds have been moved over the last six months due to the ongoing problem with the leaking roof. One of these beds is in the women's ward and it is known as the bed with a bucket. Patients use towels and sheets on the floor to soak up the water rather than have to listen to the continuous drip, drip, drip into a bucket. If that were happening in Guantanamo Bay it would not be acceptable, yet it is happening in an acute psychiatric unit in this country. The patients must ask the other patients in the ward for their towels to try to soak up the perennial flood of water coming through the roof. On one occasion, a patient occupying that bed moved it away from the leak, but then it was partially blocking the door into one of the two toilets on the women's ward, which are there to accommodate 16 women.

The issue is not only the quality of the facilities but also the lack of facilities, particularly for activities within the unit to help to prevent patient boredom. One patient put it to me that there is nothing to do but sit around waiting for medication. The only two options are to stay in one's bed or go for a cigarette. The staff are run off their feet, particularly dealing with specials - that is, patients who require one-to-one care because they are a risk either to themselves or to others. Due to the lack of staff support in the unit, many patients are being forced into remaining in the unit involuntarily. While the national average for involuntary patients as a proportion of all patients is approximately 11%, in the acute unit in Galway at present it is closer to 50%. That alone should set off alarms.

I spoke to a patient who had spent a period of time in the high-risk ward. They told me they spent two to three days without speaking with a nurse. This was in a high-risk ward. The nurses were too busy dealing with patients who required one-to-one care, including one forensic patient in the acute ward who should not have been accommodated in an acute psychiatric ward. Due to the lack of available staff to monitor that patient, the individual was occasionally able to roam freely through the unit.

The unit does not have adequate staff. That, combined with a building that is totally inadequate and the reports of boredom among patients, is a recipe for a serious accident in the unit.

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)

I am replying on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who is indisposed. I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and giving me the opportunity to update the House on the matter.

The Health Service Executive, HSE, is proceeding to modernise and reform mental health services across the HSE West region, including in the Galway-Roscommon area. A key factor in this reform was the recognition that the previous overall stock of 79 psychiatric beds across Galway and Roscommon was too high, based on recommendations in "A Vision for Change'', allied to a corresponding under-development of community-based mental health services, where I believe all of us would wish to see the service. In this context, an implementation plan to reconfigure mental health services across the Galway-Roscommon administrative area was put in place, culminating in the closure of the psychiatric ward in St. Brigid's, Ballinasloe, and the transfer of beds from there, on a phased basis, to the acute psychiatric unit in University Hospital Galway. Since February, a bed capacity level of 45 psychiatric beds has been operational in UHG. The HSE indicates that at no time since February has this bed occupancy level been exceeded and that there is no pressure on physical bed occupancy at present in UHG.

Along with the increase in bed capacity, the local HSE has also improved clinical governance, putting in place two assistant directors of nursing and an additional two senior nurse managers. This is in addition to a range of new staff and services, including the redeployment of nurses from Ballinasloe. The HSE points out that the clinical director, together with the nurse managers, conduct daily assessments on staffing requirements to ensure the safest possible service at all times. Staff in the acute unit at University Hospital Galway are confident that they can meet the needs of current inpatients and the needs of those referred for assessments. Following a recent Health and Safety Authority inspection, an action plan has been finalised by the HSE. The majority of the recommendations have already been implemented, and the remainder are being completed. For example, the safety statement has been reviewed and updated and improvements are under way in respect of relevant aspects of staff training.

I assure the House that the Department of Health and the HSE are fully committed to improving quality and safety throughout all mental health services and that this goal will remain the highest priority as regards both patients and staff. This objective is reflected in the major reconfiguration of mental health services in Galway-Roscommon, with approval for an additional 44 permanent staff at a cost of approximately €2.6 million and the coming on stream of a new 50-bed acute unit in Galway towards the end of next year.

As was clearly demonstrated in the debate on the Private Members' motion held in the Dáil last week, which was unopposed by the Government, we all agree with the fundamentals of "A Vision for Change" and wish to see services brought into the 21st century. In this context, the HSE addresses all genuine concerns, particularly quality and safety, while taking account of recommendations arising out of reviews of mental health services at local level. We will continue with this approach so that all involved have an appropriate and meaningful say in modernising services across all regions of the country. Indeed, it is now a feature that we have client engagement in respect of the new units being built around the country.

Finally, patient safety was the priority in the HSE service plan for 2014, and that applies in our mental health services as well as everywhere else.

Deputy Denis Naughten

I thank the Minister for his reply. He said there was no pressure in the unit at present. The difficulty is that beds are moved out of the ward when there is serious rain and are moved back in at other times due to pressures on the physical space to provide for the 45-bed capacity of the unit. On one occasion in the last number of months, men had to be accommodated in part of the women's ward because of pressure on bed numbers.

The Minister said the clinical director and the nurse managers conducted a daily assessment of the staffing requirements.

I am told by the nursing union there that, on one particular shift three weeks ago, of the eight staff on that floor, two were pregnant and the other six had no restraint training. Does the Minister believe that is a safe situation? Two weeks ago, there were two female staff managing the men's ward, one of whom was pregnant. There was a serious incident and the alarm had to be pressed. Patients who were "specials" had to be abandoned to respond to that emergency, and these specials require one-to-one support because they are either a risk to themselves or a risk to other patients in that unit.

We were told that most of the actions in the health and safety audit had been completed. Clearly, that is not the case in regard to the incidents I have raised. The leak problem in that facility is still there. Last year, we were promised that home-based treatment teams would be put in place, but that has not happened, and we need them immediately in Roscommon and Galway city. The 50-bed unit will take another 18 months to put in place. As an interim measure, will the Minister open the state-of-the-art St. Luke's unit in Ballinasloe to take pressure off University Hospital Galway pending the completion of that new 50-bed unit?

Deputy James Reilly

I again thank the Deputy for raising the matter. There is no question or doubt that, historically, the mental health services in this country have been the Cinderella of the health services. I had the pleasure of opening a new acute psychiatric unit in Beaumont Hospital last Friday, something we have waited over 25 years for. When St. Ita's was built, it was a state-of-the-art engineering feat that appeared on the front of the international engineering magazine in 1902 or thereabouts. However, I know from information gleaned from working in that institution over many years as a visiting GP that the original intention was to build the hospital on Lambay Island - out of sight, out of mind, and the further away the better. The next furthest point was the peninsula at Portrane. Thankfully, we live in much more enlightened times. The Government's policy is to remove the stigma from health care relating to mental health, and all new primary care centres now have mental health facilities associated with them. Indeed, the new unit in Beaumont is a joy and a delight for the patients, and the unit is, in fact, named after a Mr. Sheehan, who was one of the service's long-standing clients. The whole approach has become much more client-oriented.

The Deputy raised some points that he believes still apply. That being the case, I will certainly come back to him in regard to their status. It would not be acceptable that a leak was not fixed and that patients were in that scenario. It takes time to build new facilities. We are moving to a new model of care and, as I am sure the Deputy agrees, we want people kept in the community in so far as is possible, and we need to transfer staff to the community in order to do that. Community facilities are more appropriate and, although they are not necessarily more cost-effective, it is best outcomes for patients that we want. That is our focus. A lot of extra money has gone into our mental health service in this regard - rightly so - and that continues to be the case. I will certainly undertake to check the areas about which the Deputy has concerns and I will revert to him in writing.

At Beaumont I made the point that in the past we had had a terrible situation in which patients were in large rooms with paint peeling off the walls, but they were getting excellent care, and when they moved to the palatial surroundings of the likes of Leas Cross, the care was not good at all. We need to do both. I congratulate, commend and thank the staff who do such a great job looking after some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

Mobility Allowance Review

Deputy Michael Lowry

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to raise an issue that is of serious concern to more than 5,000 people across the country who live with reduced mobility. Citizens with reduced mobility were dealt a devastating blow on 26 February 2013, when it was announced by the Department of Health that two vital lifelines, the mobility allowance scheme and the motorised transport grant, were to be discontinued and closed to new applicants. To add further insult to those affected, no reasonable or realistic alternative to the scheme was put forward by the Department; nor was any guidance offered to those people who, 17 months later, are still struggling to deal with what was a unilateral and life-changing decision by the Government.

On 11 June last year, the Department of Health stated that the mobility allowance would continue to be paid to those already in receipt of it until the scheme was replaced. Later that month, it was announced that an interdepartmental group was to report to the Government on the establishment and operation of a new scheme by the end of October 2013. Now, almost a year and a half since the closure of these schemes and without any recent update on the long overdue interdepartmental group report, this distressing issue is still no closer to a resolution, and people with mobility challenges remain completely in the dark.

At the time of the cessation announcement by the Department of Health, over 5,000 people nationally were adversely affected by the closure of the schemes. A total of 487 people in Tipperary were in receipt of mobility allowance, while 33 others received the motorised transport grant. These precious schemes accounted on average for 20% of the total income of the recipients. Essentially, these payments are vital to recipients and their closure has had a dual negative impact. First, untold worry and stress continues to be visited upon those who rely on the mobility allowance. Recipients simply do not know what the future holds or what supports, if any, they will receive in the future. Second, no new applications for assistance can be made to the scheme, leaving hundreds of people with reduced mobility isolated and excluded from wider society.

A person with a physical disability simply cannot live life without the comfort and security of financial and practical supports, without the support of the State and its agencies and without up-to-date information as to the availability, quantity and quality of assistance. Access to a car or other appropriate and affordable mode of transport is an essential component in the life of a person with a severe physical disability. For such an individual, getting out of the house, going to town, attending a medical appointment or simply meeting up with family or friends can be a major logistical challenge.

The removal of these meagre but invaluable payments has been a shameful and reprehensible act and a move I believe to be nothing short of a travesty. The Government has had over three years to formulate an alternative to the mobility allowance, yet nothing has been done. We were advised by the Taoiseach that over €10 million was being ring-fenced for a new mobility scheme to replace those that had been deemed illegal. It is now clear that those affected by this disgraceful lack of action have been cast aside and forgotten by those in positions of power. Promises made at the last general election to retain vital mobility assistance for people affected by disability were empty and meaningless. There has been no forward thinking, no planning and a deplorable lack of respect for those people whose lives have been crushed by this short-sighted decision. The Government must stop procrastinating on this issue and put forward a fully reasoned, logical and fair alternative. No further delays can be tolerated on the issue. The Government must establish a permanent alternative to these disbanded lifelines with immediate effect.

Deputy James Reilly

I regret the rather pejorative tone of the Deputy's speech and, of course, much of it is inaccurate. However, I am pleased to take this opportunity to outline the current position in regard to a new transport support scheme for people who face significant challenges in addressing their transport needs arising from mobility issues. As Members of the House will be aware, in 2012 the then Ombudsman recommended that both the mobility allowance and the motorised transport grant be revised to make them compliant with the Equal Status Acts. The Ombudsman made particular reference to the definition of disability and the age cohort eligible to apply for support.

The mobility allowance was never designed or intended to cover the entire costs of an individual's transport needs. This administrative scheme was designed to help eligible people to benefit from a change in surroundings from time to time - for example, by financing the occasional taxi journey or transport to a hospital. It is important to emphasise that the Government accepts the position taken by the Ombudsman and acknowledges that schemes under the auspices of my Department must comply with the Equal Status Acts. However, the Ombudsman's recommendations raised significant issues of a legal, financial and practical nature, particularly as regards extending eligibility to a wider cohort.

In February 2013, the Government decided to close both schemes. At that time, the mobility allowance scheme involved some 4,700 recipients at an annual cost of €9.3 million. The Government has committed to continued payment to these recipients pending the establishment of a new scheme. Therefore, the HSE has continued to pay these 4,700 individuals at the applicable rate in each case.

Since the schemes were closed, a considerable amount of work has been undertaken. A review group on transport supports for people with disabilities was established, which involved a range of representatives of people with disabilities, which I very much welcomed, and relevant Departments and agencies. There needs to be and has in more recent times been greater involvement of the clients of these services in their planning. The Government established an interdepartmental group chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach to further consider the complex issues involved in developing an appropriate scheme, including how it should be administered.

In November 2013 the Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required on a new travel subsidy scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health in consultation with other relevant Ministers, as required. In line with the Government's decision, my Department is working to develop policy proposals for a new scheme. When we have progressed these proposals, in conjunction with other Departments, as necessary, to the point where we are satisfied that they represent workable and appropriate solutions, proposals for legislation will be brought to the Government. Subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny process for draft heads of a Bill, work will take place on the formal drafting of a Bill for publication, debate and enactment.

The Government's objective is to develop an affordable solution which will contribute towards meeting the transport or mobility needs of those who most need transport services. Issues to be considered include people's ability to access and use public transport, the extent to which individual means might be taken into account and the cost implications of different options for a revised scheme. This is a challenging task, given that the issues involved are complex and that there are serious cost pressures on the health system. We will continue the work of developing an alternative to the schemes which have been closed with a view to meeting people's needs in the most appropriate way.

Deputy Michael Lowry

My mood and tone are a mild reflection of the disillusionment and anger felt by those affected by the inaction of the Government on this scheme. I urge the Minister to stand over the repeated promises and guarantees made on this matter and to be cognisant of the importance of the scheme for those who simply cannot avail of public transport. I am asking him to give a categoric guarantee that a replacement scheme will be put in place without further delay and provide a timeline. This issue has been dragging on for approximately 18 months. The commitments have been given but not honoured and I am told today that the matter will again be kicked to touch. I, therefore, ask the Minister to give us a timeline for the introduction of the new scheme.

The form of the new scheme is also very important. Any new scheme must be in the form of a personal payment to the individual. A group transport scheme will not be sufficient to meet the variety of needs of those who previously received grants. I ask the Minister to consider the fact that, with each day that passes, unfortunately, more and more people are left challenged by reduced mobility as a result of accident or by birth. It is unacceptable that we are leaving them with no supports during a very difficult period in their lives.

Deputy James Reilly

I have outlined the background, the work being undertaken and the current position in regard to replacing the mobility allowance and reiterate my point on the challenge of developing a new individual cash payment scheme on a statutory basis with a limited budget while continuing to cater for the 4,700 people already in receipt of a monthly payment with the aim of supporting people with severe disabilities who require additional income and satisfying all legal and equality concerns. That work continues in order that they will not be disadvantaged.

I must point out to the Deputy that this was a legal issue before the Government came to power. The Government the Deputy supported presided over it. There was also a lack of action on the issue of symphysiotomy, for those excluded from the Neary redress scheme and in the case of the Magdalen laundries and many other things. Like all Deputies, I have grave concerns regarding all those who suffer from a disability and have issues with transport. The Government is working hard to address yet another issue left behind by the Government supported by the Deputy and which wrecked the country.

Social Welfare Code

Deputy Ray Butler

I would have liked to have spoken a couple of weeks ago during the debate on the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill, but my mother passed away that week and I was not able to do so. I am very grateful to have the opportunity today to speak about the provision of social protection measures for the self-employed, a matter I have continued to raise at meetings of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection. When I was canvassing during the recent local elections, this was raised as a serious issue for those whom I met who were self-employed and feared they would have no protection in the event that their business collapsed or they suddenly became ill. Other Deputies have also raised this matter and I thank them for keeping it on the agenda for discussion.

The self-employed pay a stamp at 4% and it is proposed to increase this rate to 4.25% and maintain it for an approximate two or three year period. Depending on the level of economic growth, the rate would continue to increase incrementally by 0.25% every second year or so to eventually reach a maximum rate of 5.5%. Progress has been made in recent months in resolving this matter for the self-employed. ISME, the Self Employed Alliance and some unions have spoken at length at Oireachtas meetings in giving their points of view on introducing a new stamp rate for the self-employed to offer security at vulnerable times. The introduction of a new stamp rate would provide the self-employed with social welfare payments on the closing of a business, in times of illness and disability, while all other welfare payments would be means-tested. After much discussion at several meetings, I am encouraged and heartened by the positive responses from the Self Employed Alliance which represents smaller sized employers and is wholeheartedly in favour of the introduction of the new stamp rate.

While the other representatives of the self-employed are also in favour, the elephant in the room is making it a mandatory payment, as opposed to a voluntary contribution. However, I argue that voluntary participation cannot correlate with social protection measures. Making it a voluntary payment would only serve to negate the possibility of having sufficient social welfare funding available to cover the needs of the self-employed. Therefore, a mandatory payment is required in order for this to work.

As the seeds of small business start to show signs of taking root again nationally, this appears to be the most opportune time to formally introduce this stamp rate and in doing so provide social welfare cover for those who would ordinarily have no security if the situation remained the same. Furthermore, I have spoken at length to the Ministers for Social Protection, Finance and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation about the introduction of a new stamp rate and they have all reacted positively to this becoming a real option for the self-employed. I also welcome news that ISME is preparing to undertake a survey of all its members on the subject. I am hopeful the self-employed will recognise the absolute benefits of such a move.

There are approximately 340,000 self-employed persons in the country, all of whom may need access to social welfare protection at times of vulnerability. Therefore, we cannot allow the current system to remain in place. The glaring gap must be bridged to provide them with security when they need it most and I hope all sides involved will accept this finding.

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection.

Self-employed persons pay PRSI at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. This entitles them to access long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory). Ordinary employees who have access to the full range of social insurance benefits pay class A PRSI at the rate of 4%. In addition, their employers make a PRSI contribution of 10.75% in respect of their employees, resulting in the payment of a combined 14.75% rate per employee under full-rate PRSI class A. For employees earning less than €356 per week, the rate of employer's PRSI is 8.5%.

Self-employed workers may access social welfare supports by establishing eligibility to assistance-based payments such as jobseeker's allowance and disability allowance. In the case of jobseeker's allowance, they can apply for the means-tested jobseeker's allowance if their business ceases or if they are on low income as a result of a downturn in demand for their services. In assessing means from self-employment, income from the previous 12 months is used as an indicator of likely future earnings. Given the variety of self-employment situations, the means assessment procedures are applied in a flexible manner to ensure that circumstances that would be likely to lead to a significant variation, either upward or downward, in the level of a person's income from one year to the next are taken into consideration. It is recognised that the downturn in the economy had an impact on many self-employed persons and the consequent reduction in their income and activity levels. This may be reflected in any assessment of their means from self-employment for jobseeker's allowance purposes. As in the case of a non-self-employed claimant for jobseeker's allowance or disability allowance, the means of husband, wife, civil partner or cohabitant will be taken into account in deciding on entitlement to a payment.

In September 2013, I published the report of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare on extending social insurance coverage for the self-employed. The group was asked to examine and report on issues involved in extending social insurance coverage for self-employed people in order to establish whether such cover is technically feasible and financially sustainable, with the requirement that any proposals for change must be cost neutral. The group found that the current system of means tested jobseeker's allowance payments adequately provides cover to self-employed people for the risks associated with unemployment. In this context, the group noted that almost nine out of every ten self-employed people who claimed the means tested jobseeker's allowance during the three-year period from 2009 to 2011 received payment. Consequently, the group was not convinced that there was a need for the extension of social insurance for the self-employed to provide cover for jobseeker's benefit.

The group found, however, that extending social insurance for the self-employed was warranted in cases related to long-term sickness or injuries. To this end, the group recommended that class S benefits should be extended to provide cover for people who are permanently incapable of work because of a long-term illness or incapacity through the invalidity pension and the partial capacity benefit schemes. The group further recommended that the extension of social insurance in this regard should be on a compulsory basis and that the rate of contribution for class S should be increased by at least 1.5 percentage points.

This recommendation will require further consideration in conjunction with the findings of the most recent actuarial review of the Social Insurance Fund, which indicated that the self-employed achieve better value for money compared to the employed when the comparison includes both employer and employee contributions in respect of the employed person. My colleagues in government and I will reflect on the findings of the advisory group on this issue and will further consider the recommendations contained in the report and that will take account of future developments in the budgetary and fiscal position.

Deputy Ray Butler

I thank the Minister for his positive response. I thank the outgoing Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, for all the help she has given the self-employed through her Department. Hopefully, the new Minister will finally put the new stamp in place. We are the only country in industrialised Europe that does not offer social protection for the self-employed. We have come a long way since I entered the House three years ago and raised this issue at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection. I was told the rate would be at least 30% but it is now down to 4.25%. This will give recognition to self-employed people.

Recently, a lady rang a local radio station to describe how her husband who was self-employed got sick. She earns €440 a week. They have two children and a mortgage repayment of €1,600 per month. Her husband was assessed for social welfare benefits and a payment of €1.80 per week was approved. That has to stop and we must put a system in place. Everybody gets sick and sometimes people suffer a disability.

In England, welfare payments for the self-employed are based on their profits. If people generate between zero and £7,000 in profits annually, they fill out an exclusion form. They pay £3.30 a week in national insurance if they generate between £7,000 and £12,000 in profits annually and they pay 9% in the higher bands. The Sunday Business Post ran an article under the headline, "No Country for Sick and Self-Employed". However, we are relying on the self-employed to get this country up and running. We cannot leave the system the way it is. We have to put a new system in place. I want the unions to come down off their high horses to put this new stamp in place - at the end of the day, are they acting for the self-employed or who are they acting for? We must put a stamp in place for the self-employed.

Library Services Provision

Deputy Anne Ferris

I raise this issue as as a Wicklow Deputy and as a member of the Oireachtas consultation group on centenary commemorations and I ask the Minister to restore the essential local history service to Ballywaltrim Library in Bray, County Wicklow. Historical research is the cornerstone of everything the country wishes to portray during the centenary commemorations, which have started and which will continue until 2022. Local historical research is the aspect of historical study that links today's communities with the lives of their ancestors. Validating those links is the work of professional historians, genealogists and librarians. The work of such professionals underpinned the impressive tourism drive the country witnessed during the successful project, The Gathering, last year. The images of US First Lady, Michelle Obama, and her daughters visiting beautiful Glendalough were beamed across continents and deemed to be a tourism success. Let us not forget that their visit began in the world famous Trinity College library at the end of this street where they were guided through their Irish heritage by historians, genealogists and librarians.

We are surrounded by fine libraries. Members not only have access to a world class research service within the well-stocked Oireachtas Library but the library also has strong links with the National Library next door and Trinity College library up the street. The people of County Wicklow and people worldwide who proudly claim links to the county also deserve access to their history and heritage through their local library service.

In a week Dublin City Council drew a firm dividing line between the people of Dublin and people from mainly outside Dublin who had bought tickets to a concert in Croke Park, let us be careful about creating a wider cultural divide between Dublin and the rest of the country. Let us face it. The Obamas were lucky to have access to a Dublin library. On 28 June 2014, the world's media reported on the events that started the First World War, one hundred years previously. A day later, 29 June, the only public historical research service in County Wicklow closed its doors to the public because Ballywaltrim library, where it is based, no longer has available library staff.

Researchers engaged in valuable First World War local studies during a globally important centenary year have been told to go away. The publicly owned material they need is no longer available for public consumption. Are Wicklow's First World War dead to wait another hundred years? Will Wicklow have a local studies service in time to enable historians to complete work on important 1916 and 1922 research? What of the hotels and restaurants and visitor destinations that will lose out from the wider tourism impact of the closure of Wicklow's local studies service at this critical time?

Librarian skills are needed to curate the valuable collection of books, journals, newspapers, maps and other materials that are essential to the research work of academics, historians, genealogists, local people and visitors who rely on the services in Ballywaltrim library. These professionals are a valued source of expert advice for researchers. Will the Minister support the application by Wicklow County Council to recruit librarian staff to enable the local studies service to be restored without delay?

Deputy Phil Hogan

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Wicklow County Council operates 13 public libraries across the county, plus its mobile library and library headquarters. In 2012, there were 489,669 visits to the library service. Local authorities have seen a significant reduction in staffing numbers over the last few years, and while this has assisted in the re-balancing of public service costs, it has brought challenges in service delivery for local authorities, including the library service. Decisions on the delivery of library services are matters for local authorities and my Department has no direct role in the delivery or prioritisation of those services. Wicklow County Council has responded flexibly to staff shortages in its libraries so as to maintain the fullest possible level of service. This has included libraries in some cases having fewer staff on duty, but continuing to operate.

In the case of Greystones Library, a recent staff retirement caused management to examine all options to sustain a strong level of service, including weekend and evening opening. To deliver this, the local authority made the decision to relocate a staff member from the Ballywaltrim local history studies service to Greystones Library to sustain the core number of staff required to operate the library. This was a decision of the local authority and took into account the fact that Greystones Library has a membership of 25,709 and issues more than 500,000 items per annum. The local studies section at Ballywaltrim Library in Bray was staffed by one person and was open 24 hours per week until the council's decision on its temporary closure on 1 July.

The other action taken by the county council in respect of dealing with staffing numbers and the delivery of services is the recent submission to my Department, on 24 June, of staff sanction requests for the filling of a number of vacancies in Wicklow County Council's library service. I was surprised these requests were not made earlier. The requests are being considered by my Department and I will ask if we can expedite the decisions. Pending the outcome of the sanction requests, the county council will continue to make decisions on where and how to deploy its resources. I hope my Department can deal quickly with the recent staffing request which could help Wicklow County Council to reopen the Ballywaltrim local history studies service and provide the service that existed up to 1 July.

Deputy Anne Ferris

I thank the Minister and agree it is surprising that Wicklow County Council did not apply earlier for staff funding, as the retirement of the person in Greystones would not have happened overnight and must have come as no surprise. There are questions to be raised in this regard. As Members of this House, we have a responsibility to Ireland's future, present and proud past. Local communities are the true custodians of their local history, and the library service is an essential support to communities. Without professional recording and curating of history, inaccuracies creep in and question marks begin to hang over the authenticity of heritage. Ireland and Wicklow have proud heritages, and the caretaking of that heritage must be supported.

The public library service in Bray is a year older than the Labour Party. The first free library opened its doors to the public in Bray in 1911. That library, on Eglinton Road, still provides a vital service and was joined in the millennium year by the new building in Ballywaltrim, which I was very proud to open as then cathaoirleach of Bray Town Council. In 2000, the library service in Wicklow was preparing for a bright future. Like all public services, it has suffered significantly from the effects of economic mismanagement by the previous Government. Wicklow has already sacrificed 11 library staff to local authority cost saving measures. The service has reached an unacceptable limit. For Wicklow to protect its heritage, librarians must be hired again.

Again, I welcome the Minister's positive response and I am sure he will see what he can do to ensure funding is available. The council has applied for four additional staff for County Wicklow. It is outrageous that somebody was moved from Bray to Greystones because of a retirement. There seemed to be no planning there. In this centenary year the service must be reopened.

Deputy Phil Hogan

I assure the Deputy that the closure of Ballywaltrim local history service is regretted. It was done to minimise the impact on Greystones. As part of the staff sanction application process, the Department must consult with the libraries development section at the Local Government Management Agency, and this is under way. The agency provides oversight for all library services and will have regard to the historical context of which the Deputy spoke and her personal interest in this facility for the people of County Wicklow. On the conclusion of this debate I will make inquiries to ensure no time is lost in getting Wicklow County Council the necessary approval to restore the Ballywaltrim local history studies service as soon as possible.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Wednesday, 9 Jul 2014