The Chief Whip to the Government and Minister of State Mr. Paul Kehoe TD has officially opened "Tús Nua", the HSE's new residential centre for mental health service users built on the grounds of St. John’s Hospital in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Speaking at the Ceremony, Minister Kehoe said: "I'm pleased that we can see here in Enniscorthy how Wexford's mental health services are developing modern services, which are accessible and acceptable to service users in line with Vision for Change – the government’s strategy for the mental health services. Facilities like Tús Nua, as the Irish language name suggests, is an intermediate point which can literally prepare clients for a fresh or new start again. I congratulate everyone for working so hard to get a range of beneficial services in place in Wexford Town and Gorey , all of which are part of an €18 million investment over the last two years in mental health services in the Waterford/Wexford area. Of course, Enniscorthy and district are also major beneficiaries. As we see here on the St. John's campus: in Tús Nua, the CARN House Community Mental Health Centre and the two residential units for those enduring mental ill-health and intellectual disability nearing completion, there is a strong demonstration of the HSE’s commitment to developing new mental health services in a town long associated with care giving in that sector. I’m delighted to officially open such a state of the art facility dedicated to the care and recovery of people who use the services of the Rehabilitation Team."

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Speaking at the official opening, Mr. Richard Dooley (Area Manager, HSE Waterford/Wexford) said: "Four years ago, there were in excess of 170 beds in St. Senan’s Hospital in Enniscorthy but the current number of beds is now 46. Since March of last year, acute admissions from most of Co. Wexford are catered for at the modern purpose built Dept. of Psychiatry at Waterford Regional Hospital and clients from the north of the county are facilitated at Newcastle, Co. Wicklow. The three remaining wards at St Senan’s Hospital, which provide continuing care provision, will be relocated to new purpose built premises in January 2013. A comprehensive construction programme is also currently underway on the grounds of Wexford General Hospital to provide a Community Nursing Unit of 50 beds, with 20 for mental health clients. There is also a development nearing completion here on the grounds of St John’s Community Hospital, Enniscorthy to provide two units for 12 and 14 clients with severe enduring mental ill-health and intellectual disability respectively. Following these relocations St Senan’s Hospital will cease mental health service provision having met the needs of the people of Co Wexford since 1868."

(CD/GK)