Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We had a very positive meeting last week with the Oireachtas Members from Clare. We met Marie O'Malley, representing Carrigoran House, and Michael Harty, formerly of this House, representing the home at Cahercalla. Both of those community hospitals provide fabulous care. These are outstanding facilities in our county providing healthcare to those at an advanced stage of life who have ailing health. It is not just about the beds, but all of the ancillary stuff such as the recreation rooms, gardens and other environments. However, it is very costly to run these facilities. Across the town, in Ennis, there is the fabulous St. Joseph's Hospital, which is also a geriatric hospital but which is funded very differently. It is directly funded by the HSE. These community hospitals would say that the significant costs associated with complying with HIQA requirements and making structural upgrades each year are very difficult for them to meet. Meanwhile, although St. Joseph's does not have a perfect column of funding coming in the whole time, it is ultimately managed by the HSE and can go to the Department if it needs funding. That is not so for the home at Cahercalla or Carrigoran House. Perhaps a new fund or bursary could be devised in the next budget.

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