Radical changes to Day Care Centre provision across Fermanagh will be in place by March 2016, despite local opposition.

The Western Trust has now concluded that the appropriate way forward is to proceed with the recommendations outlined in the consultation document that will see changes to provision in Belcoo, Garrison, Derrygonnelly, Teemore, Tempo Road, Lisnaskea and Newtownbutler day care centres, and will close Rosslea day care centre.

The Trust will move forward with the recommendations contained within the Reform of Day Care Services Consultation Feedback Report and it plans to have the changes in place by March 31, 2016.

Today (Monday) Alan Corry Finn, Western Trust’s Director Primary Care and Older People Services said that the Trust had heard from 1,268 respondants on its proposal to introduce a three-tiered model of day care linked to three levels of assessed need. Ninty-two per cent of those had voiced concern about the impact of travelling on eldery folk.

Mr. Corry Finn said: “As part of the new proposals for day care, each of the four localities within the Trust will have Level 1 and Level 2 day centres. In addition, Level 3 services, which are provided within local communities, will also be available in each locality. People currently in receipt of day care in a day centre will continue to receive their day care in a day centre. Future service users will have access to Levels 1, 2 or 3 day care and will receive the appropriate form of day care, based on their individual assessment of need ... The Trust will review current transport services to ensure that all service users can be accommodated in a timely manner.” The Trust will go ahead with its proposals, as follows: - Rosslea day care centre (Carn Court) will be closed. Level 1 service users will have to go to Drumhaw and level 2 service users will have to go to Newtownbutler); - Tempo Road day care centre will be a Level 1 Centre. Level 2 service users have to go to Derrygonnelly or Belcoo – whichever is closest to their home; - Drumhaw will be a Level 1 Centre. Level 2 service users will have to go to Newtownbutler; - Derrygonnelly will become a Level 1 Centre. Level 2 users will be bussed to Garrison or Belcoo; - Garrison and Belcoo will become level 2 centres. Level 1 users will have to go to Derrygonnelly); - Newtownbutler will become a level 2 centre. Level 1 service users will be bussed to Newtownbutler; - Teemore will remain a Level 1 Centre. Level 2 service users will be offered day care in Newtownbutler; - Teemore and Derrygonnelly will continue to provide a two day service; and - Beragh, Teemore and Derrygonnelly (which currently fall within Level 1 classification) could, over a period of time, potentially developed as Level 2 Centres.

Sinn Fein MLA Phil Flanagan has described the consultation as “a farce”, adding: “It is quite clear that local people do not want to see these changes made to the day centres in Belcoo, Garrison, Derrygonnelly, Teemore or Roslea. Each of these operate at a very high standard in modern facilities and serve the local community very well.

See more in Thursday’s Impartial Reporter.