Future uncertain for Deilginis

SHANNON Town Council is seeking clarification from the HSE on the future of the high-support hostel at Deilginis.
At the April meeting of the council, Labour Councillor Tony McMahon proposed the council seek information from the HSE on “the future status of the high-support hostel at Deilginis and advise what effect nursing staff reductions will have on the service users there”.
He also wanted the HSE to clarify whether or not services for young people experiencing mental health issues in the Shannon area will be maintained at current levels.
Speaking to The Clare Champion following the meeting, he said he was concerned about the situation.
“My understanding of it is that it’s going to be downgraded, that the permanent staff are going to be moved to other facilities in Ennis and that it’s only going to have occasional staff visiting there. That’s why I want someone to come and tell us what the story on it is because there is no definite information around it.”
He said he had been led to believe there will be a greatly reduced nursing service there.
“There were two nurses there in the past but this was reduced to one and I understand from this week they will be moved to Ennis and there will just be a visiting nurse to check on the service users at night.”
Councillor McMahon said the facility has to all intents and purposes been the home of several people and he was concerned about the impact on them.
“I’d be concerned for the service users there because they’re not people who have anyone to talk up for them. What I’m looking for is clarity about what has happened, is happening and about the future. I certainly feel it should be upgraded rather than downgraded. The needs of the residents there should be taken into consideration. It essentially has been their home for a long time now.”
At the meeting, Councillor McMahon said some of the residents have left Deilginis and had been moved into what he said was the “equivalent of a locked ward”.
Councillor McMahon said he had raised the matter with Minister of State Kathleen Lynch in Ennis and had received assurances that service users wouldn’t be negatively impacted upon but that representatives should be invited “to come here and tell us what is happening to the people at the hostel in Deilginis”.
His call for clarification from the HSE found a receptive audience at the council meeting. His party colleague, Councillor Greg Duff, said that at the hostel, the service users were part of a family environment and the removal of this could be very detrimental to them. “When people haven’t a strong voice, they are vulnerable,” he added.
Councillor Seán McLoughlin said the residents were neighbours of his own and were members of the local community. “To take them out of that environment is completely wrong,” he said.

His call for clarification from the HSE found a receptive audience at the council meeting. His party colleague, Councillor Greg Duff, said that at the hostel, the service users were part of a family environment and the removal of this could be very detrimental to them. “When people haven’t a strong voice, they are vulnerable,” he added.
Councillor Seán McLoughlin said the residents were neighbours of his own and were members of the local community. “To take them out of that environment is completely wrong,” he said.