Senator Terry Leyden:   It is very difficult to continue as usual in ordinary business when we are dealing with a tragedy such as that which happened in Berkeley in California. All I can say is that we hope those who are injured will make a recovery and that we extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the six young people who have died. I thank the emergency services in America, which have been very effective. The tragedy highlights the trust we place in our architects and designers to ensure that when they build, they do so securely. While an inquiry is under way at the moment, it seems to be very difficult to extend buildings and verandas with timber. I am rather surprised at the lack of quality building in that area. Those young people would have had complete faith in the security of a building of that nature and would not have thought twice about being out there. It is a tragedy and a shame that standards are not as high in America as one would expect.

  I propose to amend the Order of Business to include No. 16 on the Order Paper, a motion that Seanad Éireann oppose the closure of the Rosalie unit in County Roscommon, which cares for psychiatric patients, including those with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The matter was raised at a public meeting last Thursday night. It is a very serious situation which affects 23 patients, who are mostly psychiatric patients but include those with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, and who were previously patients of the closed St. Patrick's hospital in Castlerea. There is tremendous support for the patients and residents of what is their home and a great deal of attention is being given to them. Very significant information was provided at the meeting by Mr. Liam Walsh, whose mother, Breda, is a resident. He explained clearly how upset everyone is that they will lose their home. It is frankly an eviction by the HSE without any care or consideration. The only hope is in the ministerial responsibility which attaches to the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. I appeal to her, through Senator John Kelly, who I understand is agreeable that the motion be moved today, to attend the House today or tomorrow to outline the situation and to halt the eviction of these 23 people. It is a form of euthanasia to do what the HSE is doing. It is a most uncaring example of what the HSE is responsible for. At the end of the day, the Minister of State has ministerial responsibility in this regard. I ask the Leader of the House to accede to the proposal to amend the Order of Business.

See Motion: http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/seanad2015061700002?opendocument&highlight=Rosalie

Mental Health Services: 


Motion Senator Terry Leyden:   I move:

That Seanad Éireann opposes the closure of the Rosalie Unit in Castlerea, County Roscommon, which cares for psychiatric patients including those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Senator Mary M. White:   I second the motion.

  Question put and agreed to.

Senator Terry Leyden: "That Seanad Éireann opposes the closure of the Rosalie unit in Castlerea, County Roscommon, which cares for psychiatric patients including those with Alzheimer's and dementia."

I ask the Deputy Leader to provide time for a debate today, otherwise, with my colleagues, we intend to move the motion for debate.  The situation is that the matter has been raised by people like Councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice, Councillor Orla Leyden, Councillor Nigel Dineen and other councillors. Others involved include Dr. Greg Kelly and Dr. Charles Byrne, who is the chief psychiatrist in County Roscommon. He has expressed his concerns in today's local newspapers. He is a consultant psychiatrist and he has strongly criticised the plans to close the Rosalie unit at Áras Naomh Caolinn in Castlerea.


An Cathaoirleach:   We are not having a debate on that.

Senator Terry Leyden:   He has called for the decision to be reversed. What is happening down there is absolutely elder abuse. The 25 patients are being thrown to the wind without any concern whatsoever just because the HSE wants to cut costs. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, is absolutely not carrying out her duties.

  I am calling on Senator Kelly to use his influence in the Labour parliamentary party to reverse this decision, which is against the interests of patients in County Roscommon. We are going to continue to move this issue in this House. We are going to get a situation where there will be a vote in this House. We will call on Senator Kelly to vote against the closure of the Rosalie unit in Castlerea, County Roscommon, rather than being on radio talking about this. Deputies Frank Feighan and Denis Naughten and all the other Deputies have no influence. I want them all involved on this issue to ensure we have no further downgrading of medical services in County Roscommon.


Link to Debate: 

http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/seanad2015061100002?opendocument&highlight=Rosalie

I raised the issue in the Seanad this week, saying that as lead pipes were used extensively in building during the last century, he’s hoping people living in such houses could benefit from a grant to change the piping.

Senator Leyden also called for a debate on this and the use of asbestos pipes; he told the upper house asbestos pipes had been used to carry water in the 1970s, including in the Castlerea regional scheme. He says while he raised concerns about this in the past and people in the area were assured there was no asbestos in the water, he’s calling for this to be looked at again

I called on Irish Water to get involved.


See Link to Debate: http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/seanad2015061000002?opendocument&highlight=Terry%20Leyden


Hear my contribution on ShannonSide Radio  in relation to this issue: