St. Vincent's Community Nursing Unit, CNU, 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 at St. Vincent's is substantially complete and consists of a new two-storey development containing 50 single en suite rooms, adjacent and linked to the existing facility. When complete, St. Vincent's will be registered for 58 beds, which includes the eight-bed dementia unit in the existing building, which will continue to operate. HSE older persons services is currently in the initiation phase of project planning for the utilisation of the old building, taking account of the demand for additional rehab and long and short-stay beds in the CNU. The current residents in St. Anne's ward will transfer to the new building. Future uses of St Anne's ward will form part of the assessment in respect of the future use of St. Vincent's campus. 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.

Sentiment score: 0.10

I very much appreciate and welcome the Deputy's kind comments on what will be the new state-of-the-art building for residents. To put it in context, phase 1 of the St. Vincent's development is substantially completed, with the new unit currently being equipped. The HSE is committed to further development on the St. Vincent's campus. A scoping exercise is under way in conjunction with a local needs assessment to determine the future requirements for the people of Laois and Offaly. Areas for consideration include step-down beds, short-stay and long-stay beds, rehab beds, dementia-specific beds and respite beds. I will bring back to the HSE the particular points Deputy Stanley makes. Further developments will take place on the campus but phase 1 is virtually complete.

Sentiment score: 0.16

I very much look forward to the opening of the new 58-bed community nursing unit for the people of Laois and Offaly. I met with the HSE yesterday about a number of community nursing home facilities. I raised a particular issue in respect of a second phase at St. Vincent's. I asked directly about the scoping exercise the HSE will do in respect of the existing building. I look forward to seeing Deputy Stanley, all the public representatives, and more particularly the residents in St. Vincent's when we open the new community nursing home facility on the St. Vincent's campus.

Sentiment score: 0.21