The funds which resulted from the sale of St. Davnet’s in Monaghan should be used to staff Brookvale House in Milltown which would provide the sheltered accommodation vitally necessary for people with intellectual disabilities.

This was stated by Marian Harkin MEP when she called for clarification from the Department of Finance on the statement by Mr. John Moloney, Minister of State in the Department of Health, that funds obtained from the sale of mental health service properties would be ring fenced for mental health investment.

“What better use could there be than providing funds to staff Brookvale House which is lying idle when it could be performing a hugely valuable role in supporting those in need of special services”, she said.

It was a disgrace that the fund raising efforts of volunteers and funding from the European Union for Brookvale House could be disregarded by leaving an excellent and badly needed support facility lying idle, she said.

“I have written to EU Social Affairs Commissioner Spidla pointing out that EU funds had been provided under the EU Social Fund in response to the Irish Government’s commitment ‘to mainstream services for the disabled and to increase the participation of people with disabilities in society to ensure that all people can live with maximum independence within their community’.

 “It is unacceptable that EU funds should be obtained and then for the government to fail to open a much needed facility and I hope the EU will now put necessary pressure on the Irish government to require them and the HSE to immediately staff and make operational the badly needed facility at Brookvale House”, Independent MEP Marian Harkin said.