Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If members want to come in a second time, I ask those online to signal by using the raise hand function and those in the room to raise their hands.

There was a meeting with local public representatives, councillors and Deputies last week to discuss the Abbeyleix facility with HSE senior management. Mr. Curran's colleague from HSE estates was there. It was a reasonably positive meeting. In excess of €4 million went into the Abbeyleix nursing unit, we are told, or what is referred to locally as Abbeyleix hospital. There are 42 or 43 staff and the site is five acres. Up to last week, seven beds were occupied. That has increased this week. I want to say very directly to Mr. Reid that we have to get better at using resources in this State. The HSE has to get better at it. Here is a fine facility on a large site with a very committed and dedicated staff. Those in the county who are looking to get people into nursing home beds would give their right arm to get their relatives into that facility. That needs to be brought back into full use with the staff used.

Will Mr. Curran respond on the utilisation of those beds and of the full premises? Will he address the situation around the day-care centre? It was closed during Covid, understandably, but then a decision was taken during Covid to move it away from Abbeyleix hospital where it was located for years. There was an integrated healthcare hub there. The plan was to relocate it in a separate building and perhaps even a different town. I know that the HSE had looked at buildings in Mountrath ten miles away. However, I am saying clearly that the place for it, and it has been agreed to reopen the unit in the second quarter of this year, is the hospital site in Abbeyleix. That is important.