Disability Services
Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-28
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Anne Rabbitte (FF), Nominated by the Taoiseach

I welcome the commitment of the Ministers of State, Deputies Higgins and Brophy, and all colleagues within government to the Toghermore site.
It is important for me, in the few seconds that I have to lay this out, to say that I totally understand the mental health services and supports that are being delivered within Toghermore House. I totally understand the commitment that has been made in relation to the excavation works that are going on in Tuam at the mother and baby home. They are all within the buildings. I am looking to use the grass. I am looking to use the land surrounding the buildings. The horses are needed outside. The stables that we would put up would be outside. The running track is outside. The two pitches are outside. The gardens are outside and there is a coffee area that would be fantastic for training and developing people with additional needs to get them into employment. That is totally not utilised by any manner or means.
As for my ask, I not want to disturb any of the inhabitants within the building. Over time no doubt the HSE will have a plan to have the more integrated mental health services mainstreamed within the town's sphere of Tuam. While it is currently working through that process, I am only looking for access to construct, for anybody with farming terminology, a "lean-to" to put the horses into so that we have access to running water to give water to the horses. There are outdoor toilets there already.
From an infrastructural point of view, I would welcome the Minister visiting the site. I would like her to see this first hand because she is very much a Minister, from what I can see, with boots on the ground, who says, "Let her see. Let me understand it." She will understand clearly, when she sees it, that everything I am looking for is actually outside.
I am delighted that Galway County Council is engaging in the whole conversation but the opportunity is there for us to deliver upon.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-01-28/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:33+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-28