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Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Dec 2010

Vol. 206 No. 8

Health Centres

I welcome the opportunity to raise this important matter. The Leopardstown, Ballyogan and Stepaside areas of south Dublin have seen a significant level of development in recent years, resulting in a dramatically increased population and, as a consequence, increased need. We were delighted to have a new health centre which was formally opened by the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, a couple of months ago. It provides an excellent service which was much needed as rooms were being rented in local houses and offices in order to provide accommodation for public health nurses and speech and language therapists. The new centre is, therefore, very welcome and has made a significant difference.

The one service not yet assigned to the centre is that provided by community welfare officers and this is having an impact, particularly in current climate. People living in the surrounding areas of Leopardstown, Stepaside and Ballyogan are split between a number of health centres and individuals may only attend the centre closest to their home if they need to see a community welfare officer. However, it is not immediately apparent which health centre is the correct one and it is necessary, therefore, to make a number of telephone calls to establish which centre one should attend according to one's address. In some instances it will be the health centre in Ballinteer and in others it will be the health centre that is on the outskirts of Stillorgan, neither of which is served by a direct bus route, particularly Ballinteer. People who need to see a welfare officer are obviously already facing a difficulty or crisis they need addressed. For them, not having their own transport and not having a direct bus route is quite an imposition and adds to the stress levels and pressure people are already suffering. It would alleviate a considerable amount of hardship and make a very real difference to people in need if a specific community welfare officer could either be assigned to the health centre in Leopardstown-Ballyogan or alternatively could be there on certain days.

I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Senator for raising this issue and for giving me the opportunity to clarify the operation of the community welfare service in Leopardstown-Ballyogan and related issues.

The community welfare service, currently run by the Health Service Executive, administers the supplementary welfare allowance scheme on behalf of the Department of Social Protection. I am informed by the HSE that members of the public already have access to community welfare services at both the Stillorgan health centre and the newly opened Balally primary care centre. As both of these centres are quite near, the HSE has no plans at present to assign a community welfare officer to the Leopardstown-Ballyogan health centre.

In February 2006 the Government decided that the community welfare service would transfer to the then Department of Social and Family Affairs. There are significant benefits to be achieved by this transfer. The integration of the community welfare service into that Department will mean that all income-maintenance schemes will be managed and delivered within one entity. This will provide opportunities in the medium to longer term for enhanced customer service, achievement of efficiencies, co-ordinated control mechanisms and elimination of duplication of effort, with consequential savings to the Exchequer and better outcomes for users of social welfare services.

The transfer is a good example of the reform and transformation of public services, which are a priority for Government and which are at the heart of the public service agreement brokered by the LRC between Government and public service trade unions in Croke Park earlier this year. Management has set 1 January 2011 as the date for the transfer to take effect. It is intended that the staff of the community welfare service will be seconded to the Department of Social Protection, in the first instance, from 1 January 2011. This period of secondment will be used by management and unions to work through any issues which arise. It is intended that at the end of this secondment period, these staff will become civil servants. The unions are now meeting their members around the country to present this protocol.

Even if a community welfare officer cannot be seconded can consideration be given to an officer attending in Leopardstown for two mornings a week, which would make a difference? We can follow this up with the Department of Social Protection when the transfer takes place.

I must go as there is a vote in the Dáil and I have no pair.

Should I propose the suspension?

The Senator cannot do so as we are on the Adjournment.

We did so the other night.

I can come back.

I propose the suspension.

Will Senator Buttimer wait?

We cannot propose the suspension because the House is adjourned.

I will come back.

Can my matter be taken tomorrow?

I will speak to the Cathaoirleach and hopefully he will agree.

I do not mind coming back after the vote.

The Minister of State had better go.

The House is adjourned.

The House stands adjourned.

It is bad practice that the Minister of State has to go.

There is no debate. It is over and done with.

It is not my fault.

It is the fault of the Government Whip. May I ask that my Adjournment matter be taken tomorrow night?

I will speak to the Cathaoirleach and advise him.

In fairness, I am here and ready and willing to participate.

The House is adjourned until 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Can the Acting Chairman intercede on my behalf with the Cathaoirleach?

I have agreed to do so. I promise I will ensure he will get that message.

Given that we are almost related, a Leas-Chathaoirligh.

The Seanad adjourned at 8.35 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 16 December 2010.
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