Health Services
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-30
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Kieran O'Donnell (FG), Limerick City

I thank Deputy Gould for raising this important matter. As he is aware, unit 1 in St. Stephen's Hospital in Glanmire, County Cork, is a designated centre for older people registered by HIQA. Eight residents are residing in the dementia-specific unit. Unit 1 is the only older persons' residential facility on the grounds of St. Stephen's campus because all other operational units on the site are being utilised to deliver a range of services under the registration of the Mental Health Commission.
HSE south has advised me it has taken a decision to deregister unit 1 as an older persons' residential facility with HIQA, with a view to re-registering the unit with the Mental Health Commission to better co-ordinate the mental health services on site because they will now come under the registration of the Mental Health Commission. The Deputy spoke about his constituents. I fully appreciate this is a difficult time for residents of unit 1 and their families. The HSE has advised me that all eight residents in unit 1 will be transferred to residential care facilities deemed to meet their particular care needs, preferences and choices. Furthermore, all residents will also transfer to the new accommodation in a phased and planned manner.
This will be done very much in consultation with the residents and their families. Nothing will happen until they are satisfied with the move. The HSE has advised me that it is engaged in a comprehensive process of engagement, consultation and planning with residents, family and staff, which commenced on 28 July. Once all residents and their families have had an opportunity to look at alternative accommodation options and a full assessment of each resident's individual care needs has taken place, the HSE will commence transferring residents to their new homes in a safe and respectful manner.
The HSE expects that the eight residents will transfer to older persons' residential facilities in the Cork city and east Cork area. Significant works have taken place in recent years to provide additional places for older people in the south west, allowing HSE South West to provide the best possible care for older people in high-quality environments. These include the new state-of-the-art 50-bed Midleton community nursing unit, which opened recently, and the 105 beds in St. Finbarr's community nursing unit in Cork city, which is expected to open in quarter 4 and will include 30 new dementia-specific beds. This is in addition to what the Deputy has already referenced.
A new 17-bed dementia-specific unit in Heather House in Gurranabraher in Cork city has recently been registered with HIQA and is expected to open in quarter 4 of 2026. It is something I have taken a personal interest in. I want to see it opened. I agree with the Deputy that we need additional dementia-specific beds. Seventeen will come on stream in Heather House and another 30 will be available in the new unit in St. Finbarr's in Cork city, which is scheduled to open in quarter 4.
The opening of new community nursing units is an absolute priority for me, the Department of Health and the HSE. I am absolutely committed, along with the Department and the HSE, to ensure that the care needs, preferences and choices of the constituents the Deputy represents are fully respected. I hope their transfer to new state-of-the-art residential facilities happens in a phased, safe and considered manner with the full consent of all residents and in line with the wishes of their families.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-30/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:00:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-30