St. Vincent's Community Nursing Unit, Mountmellick, County Laois, is a public nursing home that currently provides 56 long-stay beds and one short-stay bed. Phase 1 of the current capital project for St. Vincent's consists of a new two-storey development containing 50 single en suite rooms adjacent and linked to the existing facility. The project is expected to be construction complete in the next few weeks. It is currently expected that St. Vincent’s will be operational in Q1 of 2026, following the transfer of residents, the reviewing of staff rosters and the application to vary the registration with HIQA. When complete, St. Vincent's will be registered for 58 beds consisting of 57 long-stay beds and one short-stay bed. The eight-bed dementia unit in the existing building will continue to operate. The HSE has advised that they are reviewing plans in respect of the future use of the existing facility. However, the main kitchen, canteen, laundry, and storerooms will continue to be accessed by staff. The church will also continue to be accessed by residents and staff as required, and daycare will remain operational in its current location. The scale and scope of future additional phasing of capital works at St. Vincent’s is currently being reviewed by the HSE, and once completed, the specific scope for phase 2 of the capital project will be determined. Specifically on the matter raised, as I said, the HSE is currently reviewing plans in respect of future use of the existing facility. More particularly, the HSE is currently in the initiation phase of project planning for utilisation of the existing building, necessitating complete refurbishment, taking account of the demands for additional rehab, long- and short-stay beds in the community nursing unit, CNU. Any development in the old St. Vincent's building will be subject to capital and revenue funding approval.
Sentiment score: 0.14
I thank Deputies Stanley and Aird for raising this matter. As I said earlier, the HSE is currently reviewing matters in respect of phase 2 and, more particularly, in respect of the use of the existing building in terms of pure logistics. The person in charge is in contact with HIQA. There was a request for a preliminary visit of the area in respect of the new building and specifically in respect of the existing building. As I said, the eight-bed dementia unit will continue to operate in the existing building. The HSE advises it is currently reviewing plans in respect of the future use of the existing building. More particularly on that, the HSE is currently in the initiation phase of project planning for utilisation of the existing building in terms of complete refurbishment. I take on board the point the Deputy Stanley made about the 25 beds and the point Deputy Aird made about the increased capacity. We have taken account of the demand for additional rehab, long-stay and short-stay beds in the CNU. Developments in the old St. Vincent's building will be subject to capital and revenue funding approval. I take the points both Deputies made on board. I commit to working on what they have raised.
Sentiment score: 0.27
It is good to see such strong cross-party representation from the constituency of Laois. On the particular matter Deputy Stanley raised, there are two aspects. They are currently reviewing the scope for additional works under phase 2. More particularly, both Deputies raised the point in respect of the existing building. I followed up with the HSE yesterday in advance of our debate. I got the update the Deputy is looking for, which is that it is currently looking at the use of the existing building. It is looking at it in the context of the refurbishment that was referred to, the 25 beds, which I will bring up with it, and the need for additional rehab long-stay and short-stay beds. The first step is that the HSE completes its work in that area. We then need to look at funding. I will be following up with the HSE on that particular matter.
Sentiment score: 0.13