MEETING TONIGHT ON FUTURE OF TUAM'S TOGHERMORE HOUSE

Date Published: 10-Jan-2013

A Tuam town councillor says serious questions need to be answered on why a residential service needs to be closed to facilitate fire safety standards.

Councillor Tom Reilly says there is no mention in an independent fire safety report on Toghermore House that residents need to be evacuated.

Last month, a HSE senior manager visited the centre to inform staff of the planned closure of the residential facility and the moving of its 16 residents to different locations.

A preliminary costing puts the necessary works at up to 300 thousand euro, and the HSE has admitted this was a factor in the decision to close the service.

A meeting between Tuam councillors, members of the mental health services and the HSE on the proposed closure of the residential facility takes place in Mellow House this evening.

Councillor Tom Reilly says he believes necessary works can be carried out without transferring patients.