HSE confirms addiction centre will not reopen after arson

The HSE has confirmed that an addiction treatment centre at Merlin Park – gutted by fire following an arson attack in 2013 – will not reopen.

The HSE Community Healthcare West has confirmed to members of the County Galway Joint Policing Committee that it ‘has no plans to reopen’ the facility.

Chief Officer, Breda Crehan-Roche confirmed in a letter to the JPC that a ‘higher priority’ than reopening the addiction treatment centre at Merlin Park was ‘a network of community-based addiction services’.

This she said was in line with Government’s mental health policy, ‘Vision for Change’.

“This service was historically a mental health based service and since that building was closed following a fire, mental health services have prioritised services to those individuals who have a co-morbid substance abuse and mental health problems. This is in line with national mental health policy, Vision for Change. The current mental health addiction services are community based and delivered by addiction counsellors under the guidance of locally based Community Mental Health Teams. Priority for mental health addiction services is given to those when the primary diagnosis is a mental health problem.

“The HSE is committed to building further capacity with Primary Care services to address excessive alcohol consumption through early intervention screening, brief advice and effective services for dependency,” said Ms Crehan-Roche.

County Councillor Liam Carroll (FG) said that some €470,000 had been allocated to rebuild the centre. “Where is that €470,000; are we going to be told how it will be used?” asked Cllr Carroll.

JPC Chairperson, Cllr Jim Cuddy (Ind) agreed with Cllr Carroll that there was a need for a new treatment centre.

The JPC agreed to write again to the HSE for clarity on how the allocated funding will be spent.