St Michael’s House

Deputy Finian McGrath: Earlier the Taoiseach said there was no disconnect between the Government and people on the ground.  I strongly challenge that position.

The Taoiseach: Right.

Deputy Finian McGrath: I also strongly challenge the Taoiseach.  He gives the impression that there are no cuts to services for people on the ground.  I wish to bring him back to reality.  Last week I met representatives of St. Michael's House, the largest provider of intellectual disability services in Dublin, and the third largest in the country.  As the Taoiseach is aware, it provides day services for 1,616 people and residential services for 450.  A total of 80% of the services are located north of the Liffey and 20% are located south of the Liffey.  Coming up to the budget I wish to ask the Taoiseach a few direct questions on St. Michael's House and disability services in general.

First, why is he cutting front line services to St. Michael's House?

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan: Why is Deputy McGrath getting two salaries?

Deputy Finian McGrath: Is the Taoiseach aware that despite the moratorium on recruitment being in place in recent years €8.7 million has already been cut from St. Michael's House services which led to a reduction of 104 staff?  St. Michael's House has upped its game and despite losing 104 staff it has also managed to provide 114 more day care services and 44 more residential services.  There is another example of a disconnect and a cut.

Does the Taoiseach accept that St. Michael's House has taken a major hit?  On top of that, is he aware that staff have increased productivity and a major reduction in absenteeism from 6.5% to 2.1%.  There is another disconnect in terms of the Taoiseach's views on the issues.  Why is he planning to cut funding to St. Michael's House in advance of the budget?  St. Michael's House has delivered fantastic services to many people and the families of people with intellectual disabilities.  Will the Taoiseach deliver for those families and not cut front line services?

The Taoiseach: I do not have the details on the position of St. Michael's House to hand.  For the first time the delivery of mental health services is being made a central part of the delivery of health services in general.  The Government has ring-fenced funding of €35 million under the remit of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, for the delivery of those services.

As Deputy Finian McGrath is aware, every Department was asked to reduce costs and that has applied across the board.  I appreciate the work done by front line services.  I am aware of many cases where psychiatric nurses have retired and have not been replaced because of the moratorium on recruitment.  There is a shift from the institutionalised delivery of services to community-based services.  The delivery of mental health services as a normal part of the health service is a good thing rather than having it sidelined as it used to be.

I do not have the details of the situation in St. Michael's House to hand but if Deputy Finian McGrath wants to send me the details I would be happy to receive them.  Perhaps he wishes to raise the matter as a topical issue with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle.  I accept his central point that this is of great importance for those concerned.  I appreciate the pressure and difficulties front-line workers have to contend with in the delivery of those services.  Many of those for whom the service is provided are demanding mentally and physically on staff.

Deputy Finian McGrath: I thank the Taoiseach for his response.  I am trying to encourage him and the Ministers for Health and Finance not to cut these services which have already lost 104 staff.  I believe an 8% cut is on the agenda of the Health Service Executive in the coming weeks.  An 8% cut in St. Michael's House services will result in the loss of significant services that will wipe out residential and extra care services.  I raise that issue with the Taoiseach.

Is he aware that there are 240 parents over 70 years of age caring for their son or daughter with an intellectual disability at home?  A total of 147 of those families are in serious difficulty and there is significant pressure on them and on St. Michael's House.  They are the figures for people in their 70s and 80s with adult children with intellectual disabilities in their 30s and 40s.  They are not large figures and there is an opportunity for creative budgeting and creating care services to look after those people.  Does the Taoiseach think it is fair for there to be any cuts in those services?  Does he still believe in the just society?  Will he support me in ensuring that St. Michael's House and other intellectual disability services are not cut in the next budget?

The Taoiseach: I do believe in a just society.  In order to arrive at a situation where that can apply, the structure of the way we deliver services and how Government and its agencies and the services of the State are run need to be changed drastically in many cases.  That does not happen overnight.

Deputy Finian McGrath referred to the 240 parents, of whom 147 have serious difficulties.  I invite him to send me the details.  I will arrange for the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who has responsibility for the area to meet a delegation from St. Michael's House to hear at first hand what is its problem.