Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that commitment from the Taoiseach.

There are three options available in Roscrea and I would like some action on them. One is to review the current detailed plan put forward by the development company to combine a new nursing home unit on the same site as the new medical centre. The second option is to use the 3-acre greenfield site owned by the HSE at the rear of Cré House health centre and build a modern, HIQA-compliant community nursing home with a capital funding allocation. The third option is to refurbish and extend the existing building. This option is problematic as the building can only be extended to the front and this would encroach on the adjoining public car park. This car park already overflows at Sunday masses, weddings and funerals. There is also the issue of caring for residents while such work is ongoing.

This is a priority issue for me. It is imperative that the HSE service plan is revised to include Roscrea and it is vital that an elderly care project for Roscrea is included in the new revised plan. I appreciate that the Taoiseach is offering a meeting with the Minister and the representative groups together with public representatives and I hope that we can make some progress on a viable solution at that meeting.

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