The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Michael Healy Rae satisfied with assurances given him
NO resident of St Mary of the Angels will be forced out of the facility against their will is the assurance Independent Deputy Michael Healy Rae says he was given by St John of Gods managegement of the centre at a recent meeting.
Deputy Michael Healy Rae said he was given the guarantee in a lengthy meeting he held with management on Friday as he came out strongly in support of the affected families this week.
Michael’s brother and fellow TD Danny Healy Rae is also strongly backing families and said he contacted the HSE on four separate occasions over the matter last week, visiting St Mary’s on Friday, September 30.
“The first thing to say is that St Mary of the Angels is not closing down,” Deputy Michael Healy Rae told The Kerryman this week.
He said that none of the 76 current residents of the centre would be ‘forced out’.
“I am satisfied that I was given a guarantee by St John of Gods management that nobody will be forced out. It will only happen if an opportunity arises for a move into the community but only if the resident and their family wish to avail of it. They may be offered a place outside, but if they do not think it is suitable it won’t happen,” Michael Healy Rae said.
A decision not to admit any new residents to St Mary of the Angels that came into effect three years ago was ‘worrying’ he said., however.
Minister of State for Disabilities Finian McGrath dealt a hammer blow to families last week in reaffirming his support for the national HSE policy of ‘decongregation’ - moving residents from ‘congregated’ settings into houses in the wider community - in a response to a question specifically dealing with St Mary’s.
However, Michael Healy Rae insists the Minister’s position can be qualified with respect to St Mary’s based on a number of conversations between the pair on the issue during the week: “The Minister has assured me that no one will be forced out. He admitted to me the statement was wrong in so far as it did not cater for every case.”
He was also critical of the lack of communication from the St John of Gods on the matter what he described as a ‘failing’ that ‘terrorised’ heart-broken families.
Deputy Danny Healy Rae is calling on the HSE to reverse the ‘decongregation’ policy and said he was pleased that Minister McGrath will now meet the families there, as he called on him to do last week.
“In support of the families I have made contact with officials of the HSE on four occasions last week. I visited St. Mary of the Angels on Friday, September 30. I outlined my total opposition to what they are proposing to do in a conversation with a HSE official. I spoke in Dáil Éireann on Tuesday, October 4, again protesting about the closure. I invited Minister Finian McGrath down to Beaufort and he has promised to do that. I promise to fight tooth and nail to ensure that St. Mary of the Angels is kept open,” Danny Healy Rae told The Kerryman.
Danny also echoed families’ fears over how residents would cope in houses in the wider community.
“How can the residents get the same level of care as they get at present? Will 24-hour medical spervision be provided seven days a week and will oneto-one assistance be provided 24 hours?
“Will meals specially be prepared by the kitchen staff in Mary of the Angels continue to be provided to meet the individual requirements of the residents? Will the wonderful amenities like the heated pool and hall with so many dedication activities be available?”
Fears the whole centre would close are not borne out by the €100 million sum currently available Minister McGrath to pursue decongregation in any event, Micheal Healy Rae said:
“If you wanted to depopulate St Mary of the Angels it is estimated it would cost between €20 and €30 million.
“Are you telling me they’re going to use a third of the budget on one facility in Kerry?”
“There’s only one way a resident will be moved out of there and that’s by consent. Most residents are too profoundly disabled to even be suitable for living in a community setting and the few who might be considered capable of such a move will only do so in full agreement,” Deputy Michael Healy Rae added.