A well-known residential midlands addiction and counselling centre is to close next month, with the loss of 20 jobs, it has been announced.
Staff were told yesterday evening of the decision to shut down Harristown House, located in the grounds of Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon. The closure is planned for November 28th.
The move was described as “ludicrous” by a local union leader, and union officials are to meet management of Harristown House, which was established in 1998 and offers addiction treatment to male clients referred by the probation service and other elements of the criminal justice system.
The facility is funded to the tune of about €275,000 by the Probation and Welfare Service through an annual grant from the Dept of Justice.
“This is a service that is critical in terms of the rehabilitation of young offenders and over the past ten years has proved most successful,” said Impact trade union official Denis Rohan.
“I believe the closure of the centre in essence boils down to lack funding by the Probation and Welfare Service and the Department of Justice. If one were to be cynical one could well claim that it is as a result of the recent instructions to the various Government departments to cut back on spending.
“This is a ludicrous decision. The service provided by Harristown House gives young offenders a second chance by providing counselling and rehabilitation and keeps them out of the prison system,” Mr Rohan added.
A meeting between union and management is expected to take place tomorrow, and Impact are seeking urgent talks with the Department of Justice.
Local Fine Gael TD Denis Naughten said the closure would cost money and lives. "The Government’s decision to close Harristown House . . . will see more petty offenders going to jail at more cost to taxpayers, when they should be offered rehabilitation.
“This decision does not add up when it comes to a value for money assessment. The service treats 100 people a year at a cost of €475,000, which is about the cost of housing six people in prison annually."
Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan TD condemned the closure of the "cutting edge" centre as a false economy and "yet another example of Fianna Fáil’s botched reaction to the economic crisis".
"Harristown is one of a number of alcohol treatment centres which offers offenders an alternative to prison. Numerous experts have highlighted the need to offer rehabilitation services to prisoners in order to turn them back into productive citizens," he added.
