Danny Healy-Rae urges protection for Mid-Kerry care centre
Danny Healy-Rae spoke in the Dáil about concerns over the future of Mary of the Angels, a St. John of Gods service in Mid-Kerry, and urged the minister to prevent the property being sold. He called for the HSE or an appropriate body to retain the centre for the 64 patients who rely on its care.
Service history
The centre, Mary of the Angels, was donated by the Doyle family to the Franciscan sisters in 1965 and later handed over to St. John of Gods in 2005. He noted the facility has provided care for disadvantaged, mentally and physically disabled children since 1965.
Current situation
St. John of Gods have indicated they will give up the service after the end of the year, saying funding from the HSE was inadequate. A rumour that the property may be sold has prompted urgent concern from the deputy.
Appeal to the minister
He appealed directly to the minister to ensure the property is not sold and that it is kept for the patients who need its services, asking that the HSE or an appropriate department or group take charge when St. John of Gods withdraw. He also praised the minister's previous stance in the fight against the abortion bill.
Patients and staff impact
There are 64 patients currently at the centre with trained staff providing care. He emphasised the mental and financial toll of the pandemic on the community and argued that continuity of care for these patients must be secured.
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Thank you very much, Cathaoirleach. First of all, I'm grateful for this opportunity and we all know, each and every one of us, that there isn't a man or woman or child that hasn't been affected by this pandemic mentally and financially and every other way, but especially mentally. But I want to highlight one special thing here today, Minister Mary Butler, indeed the other minister, but I know Minister Mary Butler would have a disadvantage and the children and she was very good in the fight against abortion bill where it affected unborn babies. But I want to highlight the fact, Minister, that the St. John of Gods have been operating a very valuable service in Mid-Kerry, in Mary of the Angels, where disadvantaged children, mentally and physically disabled children, have been seen after since 1965. This property was given over free of charge, donated by the Doyle family to the Franciscan sisters at that time in 1965 and they operated up until 2005 when it was handed over to St. John of Gods. But St. John of Gods are now giving up and they're saying that as they weren't funded properly by the HSE, they can no longer continue. But a rumour has gone out that the property is going to be sold now by St. John of Gods. And this is particularly helpful to the parents and to the patients in the centre that this would be sold because I'm asking you, Minister, to ensure that it will never be sold and that it will be kept for these patients by the HSE or whatever department or group are put in charge after the end of the year when St. John of Gods give up. There are 64. There are 64 patients there at the present time, trained staff sitting after them. I'm appealing to you, Minister, not to let this property be sold to anyone else other than it's kept for the patients that need their care.
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