The Taoiseach has said that he will be in touch with the HSE, to ensure that any steps taken to move residents from the Owenacurra Centre in Midleton will be patient centred.
The HSE announced that they would be closing its only long-term adult mental health facility in East Cork this October, because the building is 'not fit for purpose'.
Currently, 19 people live in the centre, which also provides an adult mental health respite service.
According the The Echo, residents and their loved ones say the proposed move from the facility is causing them considerable stress.
Speaking in East Cork earlier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin told reporters that the HSE say there will be comprehensive consultation with the service users and their families:
"Many of those who avail of the service have spoken highly of the staff there. The HSE have said there will be comprehensive consultation with the users of the service, and with their families, before anyone has moved anywhere or provided with a service in an alternative direction. I will be in touch with teachers to make sure that it's patient-centred and user-centred in terms of any steps that the agency takes to move on from Owenacurra."
