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

Once again, I thank Deputy Gould for raising this important matter. I appreciate it is a difficult time for the residents and their families. As already stated, HSE South West has advised me it has taken the decision to deregister the dementia-specific unit for older persons in St. Stephen's campus hospital, with a view to re-registering the unit with the Mental Health Commission. I reiterate that the HSE is engaged in a comprehensive process of engagement, consultation and planning with residents, family and staff to arrange alternative accommodation for all eight residents residing in unit 1.
Residents and their families continue to engage with the general manager with responsibility for unit 1. The general manager remains available to meet any resident or family member to address any queries they may have. As I said, I assure the Deputy, the residents and their families that the HSE will only commence the transfer of residents to their new homes in a safe and respectful manner once all residents and families have had an opportunity to look at alternative accommodation and a full assessment of each resident's individual care needs has taken place.
The transfer of residents will depend on the assessed care needs of each resident and their choice and preferences. I welcome the assurance from the HSE that it expects the current residents in the south-west area to be transferred to older persons' residential facilities in east Cork and Cork city. A new 50-bed unit has opened in the community nursing unit in Midleton. There will be 30 dementia-specific beds and a new community nursing unit is expected to open in St. Finbarr's. Moreover, a new 17-bed dementia-specific unit, Heather House, in Gurranabraher in Cork city has recently been registered and is expected to open in quarter 4. Once again, I reiterate that the HSE, the Department and I are absolutely committed to ensuring that all eight residents can be moved to a new home of their choosing in a safe and timely manner.

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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