LRC may intervene in Bawnmore plans

THE Labour Relations Commission could be asked to intervene to remove the threat of temporary closure of a regional facility for people with intellectual disabilities in Limerick, following a €2.4 million cut in funding from the Health Service Executive (HSE).

One of the controversial cost-cutting proposals being considered is the possibility that the Brothers of Charity Services at Bawnmore, Limerick could be significantly scaled down for 10 days on August 1 and that residents whose special needs are not too profound may be sent home to families or relatives. 
Irish Nurses’ and Midwives Organisation (INMO) representative, Mary Fogarty, told The Clare Champion the INMO, SIPTU and IMPACT are planning to meet as a group next week and may decide to refer the issue to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC).
Ms Fogarty confirmed unions might also request the LRC to facilitate the establishment of an independent financial audit on the facility over the last few years, to establish where all the money has gone.
She claimed that while unions were presented with proposals recently, no substantive negotiations have taken place, with unions stating they are not prepared to accept these cuts.
She said there are fantastic staff at the facility who have not had a pay increase over the past two years and have shown flexibility in staying on after normal working hours. She expressed concern that some of the changes could be introduced this Friday because of the need to achieve major cost reductions in the near future.
There are 105 residents from Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary in Bawnmore, of which just under 40 are from Clare.
Under the current proposals, the canteen at the facility is facing closure and outside caterers could be employed to provide meals for residents. People with intellectual disabilities who travel to the facility on a daily basis will not be given dinner and supper and will instead have to bring a packed lunch with them if this is introduced.
Last year, one bungalow at the complex closed while another is facing closure, meaning more residents will be forced to share rooms, regardless of their own special needs or circumstances.
It is expected that the cutbacks will involve a reduction in hours for nurses on contracts and more care staff will be employed to take up nursing duties. It is claimed that nursing and care staff hours have already been cut during the day and night.
Some of the residents have been in Bawnmore for 30 years, many with elderly parents in their seventies and eighties.
A respite bed, which was available to a family who found themselves in a crisis situation following the death of a parent, is no longer available.
According to a copy of a letter circulated by management to staff recently, there is a real risk the facility will run out of money before the end of the year if hard decisions are delayed.
It explained that services at the facility are faced with a reduction of funding of €2.4 million, €1.083m of which will directly impact service provision and staff.
It stated that senior management are in the process of drawing up plans to manage these cuts and are exploring all options and looking for efficiencies.
“In parallel, the board and the senior management team are engaging with a senior political representative and the HSE in order to reverse or at least moderate these cuts in light of the profound impact they will have on our services,” the letter outlined.
The pay-related cut of €1.3 million is the reduction to reflect the cut in pay to all staff, which doesn’t have an impact on service provision.
A funding cut of €546,000 on its operating budget means the facility has half a million less to run services this year, while the €537,000 cut relates to the Government moratorium introduced from April 1 last.
At the time of going to press, the HSE said it wasn’t in a position to comment.