Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Is there anything the Minister of State can do in the short term to support this valuable asset we have in the Mulranny area? As I outlined, it is there not to make a profit but to serve the community. Dr. Cowley has a tremendous team of staff. Perhaps the Minister of State could take a trip some time to see the way the service operates. It provides meals on wheels and housing. It is under extreme pressure. HIQA has to come in and the home has to obey the same rules. Whenever HIQA visits it costs the nursing home. The number of beds has been reduced, costs are going up and it faces a crisis. Perhaps some of the Minister of State's officials will make contact with Dr. Cowley to see if there is anything they can do in the short term. I hope this can be resolved in the budget because these homes should be treated the same as public nursing homes.

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