A chara, – Institutional care has for decades been internationally recognised not to be suitable for people with intellectual disability. Institutional living not only denies people their basic human rights compared to normal household living in ordinary, open integrated community settings, but furthermore is known to lend itself to abusive practices.
As a paediatrician specialising in intellectual disability, I can well recall the outcry among the many who were committed to the community care model, following the announcement that the building of an institution for people with intellectual disability in Swinford was to go ahead. At the time, there was already an excellent, countywide, community-based service for children with intellectual disability in Co Mayo, and people wanted similar services to be extended to adults. Most of those professionally involved with the intellectual disability services in the west of Ireland signed a document petitioning the health authorities not to proceed with the plan for the institution, but instead to invest the money available in developing community services.
Unfortunately, with an election looming, it was considered politically expedient to build a large institution, and so the voice of the people was ignored. Not for the first time, the provision of jobs trumped all considerations of appropriate care for the marginalised.
Minister of State for Disability Kathleen Lynch should take immediate action, and put in place a plan to close Áras Attracta within a reasonable time, and move on to community care, rather than waste time and money endeavouring to change that which is most likely inherently unchangeable. – Is mise,
Dr SINEAD O’NUALLAIN,
Bearna, Co Galway.