I raise the issue of Droimnín private nursing home in Stradbally, County Laois, and ask the HSE to give serious consideration to retaining this facility on a full-time, permanent basis. As the Minister of State is aware, following an application by HIQA under section 59 of the Health Act 2007, the High Court directed the HSE to assume responsibility for the operation of the nursing home as a provider of last resort. This followed serious and persistent non-compliance identified during the HIQA inspections in April and September 2025, relating to governance, staffing, care planning, healthcare delivery and residents' rights. As widely reported, the HSE has now taken operational control of the centre. I acknowledge the overriding priority has rightly been the safety, care and welfare of the residents of Droimnín nursing home. Enhanced clinical oversight, health professional supports, staff education and daily senior level monitoring are now in place and the residents cared for safely, with no current infectious disease outbreaks. I also believe this intervention presents an important strategic opportunity for the care of the elderly in County Laois. Droimnín is a 70-bed, HIQA-registered designated centre, providing long-term respite and step-down care. It serves the wider Laois region. It is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built building. At the time the HSE stepped in, approximately 40 residents, many of them highly dependent, were living in the centre. County Laois has experienced a chronic shortage of nursing home places in and around Stradbally and the surrounding areas. Families are under severe pressure, with long waiting times, limited local options and increasing dependence on placements outside of the county. This places further strain on patients, carers and acute hospitals. I ask the Minister to consider if the most appropriate course of action is for the HSE to retain Droimnín as a publicly-operated nursing home on a permanent basis. We do not want this valuable capacity lost to the system. While there may not be a precedent for such a decision, I am asking the Minister of State to outline whether permanent HSE ownership and operation of Droimnín is actively being examined, how this facility could contribute to addressing the shortage of long-term and step-down care beds in County Laois, what engagement is taking place with HIQA and other stakeholders on a long-term governance model and what assurances can be given to residents and families to safeguard continuity, stability and the future capacity of the centre. There are many people in my own area around Portlaoise who have to go to nursing homes outside of County Laois. Droimnín is a nursing home in County Laois. I ask the Minister of State to endeavour to do everything possible under the guidance of his Ministry.

Sentiment score: 0.16

I thank the Minister of State for his response and note his comments. It is acknowledged that Ireland’s population is ageing, and this will bring significant challenges. We must plan proactively to meet these needs. There are three HSE nursing homes in County Laois: one in Abbeyleix, St. Brigid's Hospital in Shaen and St. Vincent's community nursing unit in Mountmellick. While I mention St. Vincent's community nursing home, I am delighted to see that the new 50-bed extension is nearing completion. I urge the HSE to proceed without delay with the remaining phases to deliver the full complement of beds. I must make it very clear that the situation in Droimnín nursing home arose from regulatory failure but it now offers the State an opportunity to strengthen public nursing home provision in an area of growing need. This is a chance to secure long-term, high-quality, publicly delivered care for the older people in County Laois. I visited St. Vincent's hospital in Mountmellick the other evening. It is a hospital that is very near and dear to my heart because my late mother worked there for many years. When the new extension or new build is open, I urge the Minister of State to consider revamping the existing rooms that are available in the hospital. That is very important. I walked through the hospital and spoke to people. I know many people who are there and there was not one patient - those who could interact with me - who had nothing but the height of praise. I want to take this opportunity - I do not often get it - to thank all the people and staff in the nursing home in St. Vincent's in Mountmellick. The single biggest problem in St. Vincent's hospital, which Members here all know as public representatives, is to try to get people into it and have beds available. That is the biggest problem. It shows the care and attention the patients are getting in St. Vincent's hospital. There is just one little thing I would ask the Minister of State to raise when he is in discussion there. I hope the church there, which is visited by the patients many times a day on a daily basis, is linked to the new build so people can come and go as they would be used to doing over many years in St. Vincent's.

Sentiment score: 0.26