Health Services
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-30
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Thomas Gould (SF), Cork North-Central

I want to be clear about what the Minister of State said. He said that nothing will happen until the families are satisfied and the situation has been worked through. I have met the families privately and there has been a public meeting. The families do not want their loved ones to be moved out of the unit. They fear for the health of their loved ones if they are moved. They were given a list of places in Cork and Kerry where they were advised to take their loved ones. Why would someone leave a place where they are safe, looked after and minded? It is not just a bed. The dementia unit is specifically for dementia patients and is their home.
The Minister of State and HSE have not answered my questions. Why are dementia beds being closed when there is a dementia bed crisis across the State, but especially in Cork? Will the Minister of State give me one reason that is happening? Families are looking for answers from him, but no one will give them answers. They do not want their loved ones to be moved. There is talk about being moved and transferred and care needs. We know their care needs are being met in Sarsfield Court. Why would patients be moved when they are being looked after?
There are eight empty beds in Sarsfield Cork right now where eight people with dementia could be cared for by staff. People love the staff there. The Minister of State said nothing is going to happen until the families are happy. They are not patients; they are residents. This is their home. I ask for a commitment from the Minister of State to keep the unit open. Will he explain why he and his Government are closing dementia beds? The families cannot explain it. Will he explain how this affects the rights of these citizens as human beings? They are being evicted. It is completely wrong.

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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