OPINION: It will be a loss beyond belief is St Mary of the Angels in Beaufort eventually closes down and many of the alternatives that will be offered to residents and their families leave an awful lot to be desired, writes Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae
Many years ago the government made a political decision, in their own words, “supporting people to progress from campus-based institutional settings to community-based homes with support”.
An example that everybody would know of in Kerry is St Mary the Angels. This is an excellent facility.
Sadly, when people who are residents here pass on, there are no new residents moving in so it is effectively being closed in a slow but sure fashion.
It has, over the years, provided an excellent, friendly, happy place for people to live their lives. I appreciate some people’s disability and care requirements might mean they could live in a decongregated setting but my point throughout all of the years has been that one shoe does not fit all sizes.
There are people who are best suited to being in a special place such as St Mary of the Angels and others could do well and be happy in a home – a private house with supports provided to them.
I have again raised this matter with the government and the HSE to try and ensure that St Mary the Angels will not be allowed to close but I have again been told no that the policy is that all people living in congregrated settings will be moved to dispersed housing in ordinary communities and will have the same entitlements as any other citizen.
My point is that they had all the services and facilities and requirements that they needed in St Mary’s of the Angels. It is a special place for people to be. They have done such great work over the years and it does not make sense to me to allow the loss of this facility at this time.
I believe that, in time, all politicians will wake up to this fact and realise that this was an error but it will be too late at that stage.
Continuous ministers for health have failed to fully appreciate the appreciation families have for the services of St Mary the Angels.
It will be a loss beyond belief to see it eventually closing down and indeed many of the alternatives, in my opinion, are nothing short of isolated homes in areas which actually do not integrate with the community and leave an awful lot to be desired.
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