Madam, - It is most unfortunate when residents of a housing estate picket a housing project designed to help people who have been discharged from mental health institutions to integrate back into the community.
The stigma of mental health is still a major problem, and there is no doubt that decision-makers, politicians, clergy and those who influence public opinion through the media must take their share of responsibility for the way people with even the slightest mental health problem were locked up in institutions for years.
The policy of community integration now being promoted is the correct one and must be facilitated by every means possible. However, this process must involve consultations and understanding by all those involved.
In order to understand the situation at Slí Eile from the perspective of the Pike Farm residents I set out the following points:
1. The project was announced as a project for the homeless with no specific details.
2. No contact was made with the residents to explain the project.
3. The only information available from Slí Eile was a submission that had previously been made for another project in Rathcormac, which did not get Government backing.
4. The community care department of the Health Board was not aware of the project and was not in a position to say whether it would be involved in it.
5. The name of the organisation and the previous submission clearly indicated a "new approach to tackling this problem". Slí Eile was not happy with the approach being taken by the health board and the Cork Mental Health Alliance.
6. The revolving-door syndrome for mental health patients was a concern to the Pike Farm residents, especially since the health board was not involved.
Without any other information to hand these facts sounded alarm bells for the residents. The two sides have become more entrenched and the confidence that is so necessary has now collapsed on both sides.
Charleville is a caring community and home to St Joseph's Foundation, an organisation that has done untold good for disadvantaged people - both physically and mentally handicapped.
One of St Joseph's residential bungalows has been situated in Pike Farm for the past 14 years and works extremely well with the guidance of the foundation and the goodwill and help of the Pike Farm community.
Instead of trying to apportion blame for the current unfortunate situation in Pike Farm, let us try to resolve this problem and move forward. I hope the Slí Eile approach will add another dimension and be a better way of integrating people with a history of mental health back into the community. - Yours, etc,
GERARD MURPHY TD, (Fine Gael,Cork North West), Dáil Éireann, Dublin 2.