Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Cuisle is a unique holiday centre in Ireland and, probably, across Europe. It provides 24-7 care support at a fully accessible holiday and respite centre. It also provides nursing support. The Irish Wheelchair Association has said one of the reasons it is pulling out of the centre is that there has been a reduction in bed night usage at the facility. The six-year average bed-night usage at Cuisle is 4,800 per annum. By the end of 2019, 4,380 bed nights will have been used. The reason for the drop-off has been the lack of recruitment of staff to operate a holiday facility over weekends.

We are now being told Cuisle is not suitable because it is an institution. However, the Irish Wheelchair Association wrote to members of Roscommon County Council in 2018 to say that its facilities resembled those of a hotel and included 34 en suitetwin and double bedrooms, the Castle restaurant, Harry's Bar, a leisure suite and gyms. That does not look to me like it is an institution. Further, BDO consultants prepared a report at the time setting out a business plan for the tourism development of that facility, yet the Irish Wheelchair Association now says it is not viable.

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