RESIDENTS have reacted with anger after the Health Service Executive announced it is to close a secure special care unit in west Dublin and transfer its occupants to Portrane.

In response to a Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report, which was highly critical of the facilities and management of the unit at Ballydowd, children currently housed there are set to be transferred to the Crannóg Nua facility on the peninsula. The move has been criticised by Donabate Portrane Community Council, who said the HSE had kept them in the dark and a letter has been sent to management questioning the suitability of the facility, given its capacity and man power.

' We're very annoyed we weren't informed of this,' a spokesperson said. 'We've had numerous meetings with HSE management who promised to keep us informed and we only heard about it on the radio. ' When Crannóg Nua opened, we were promised a community representative on the board of management. That never happened and we are demanding that it be put in place.

'These are vulnerable children. Is Portrane the best place to put them, given there are very few facilities and no garda station in the area?' The HIQA report found management practices 'did not meet the standard' and that 'difficulties with the management of staffing' had led to serious concerns for the ongoing welfare of the children.

Labour's Senator Brendan Ryan called for a review and a reversal of the decision saying it would not improve the situation of the children currently housed at Ballydowd.

' This decision has been made without any prior consultation with local residents, despite the fact that plans were in place since last year to move the Ballydowd facility,' Senator Ryan said.

'If the failed management team and the unacceptable management practices are transferred to Portrane, then this facility may also become unviable and may put both members of the local community and residents of the facility at serious risk.

'It will worsen the situation of the children at Crannóg Nua, which will have to become a secure unit, and it will heighten the fears of the local residents with a proven incompetent management taking over the running of Crannóg Nua.'

- Robin KIELY