Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of the Dean Maxwell nursing home in Roscrea. This facility is facing closure which will result in the loss of the long-stay beds it provides. Over the past few years, there has been much posturing from Deputies and the HSE which has led to confusion and anger in Roscrea. I am calling on the Minister to clarify the long-term plans for the staff and patients at the nursing home. This is a major issue for people and they claim that there seems to be no plan for the future of the patients of the home. Indeed, two members of the present Government parties, while visiting the home last year, described it as a lovely caring environment where the residents are surrounded by family who can visit them with ease because the facility is in their time. Those were the comments of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath.

Roscrea urgently needs a plan which meets the needs of the older people in the town. The Dean Maxwell nursing home is close to the hearts of people in Roscrea and must be retained, according to Deputy Jackie Cahill. At the time, those two Deputies claimed that we must get the HSE to change its policy and that they had to be in government to achieve that. Now is the time and the public are watching. I call on the Minister to make a statement and contact the management and staff immediately to clarify where they stand and what the future holds.

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