Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I said, sometimes difficult decisions have to be taken for the greater good. The decision to utilise the new Nenagh community nursing unit building, on an interim basis, as a step-down, sub-acute and rehabilitation facility was taken to alleviate the significant pressures on University Hospital Limerick. The intention is that the arrangement will be reviewed within one year - I have been given a guarantee of that - and the Nenagh community nursing unit will open for long-term residential care services 12 months after the contract with the private provider commences.

I do not want people to have the impression that older people in St. Conlon's are not being looked after The current community nursing unit at St. Conlon’s in Nenagh will continue to provide the same excellent care to its residents during this interim period. The new Nenagh community nursing unit will ultimately replace St. Conlon’s community nursing unit.

The regional executive officer, Ms Sandra Broderick, and HSE mid-west chief officer, Ms Maria Bridgeman, together with Ms Colette Cowan, UHL, are committed to ongoing engagement with the unions in regard to the temporary use of the Nenagh community nursing unit as a step-down unit and have met union representatives on three occasions, with a further meeting scheduled for 13 May.

There is also ongoing engagement between the director of nursing in St. Conlon’s community nursing unit and residents and their families to address informal queries that have arisen regarding the temporary postponement of the move to the new Nenagh community nursing unit. The community nursing unit is being repurposed temporarily for 12 months and I guarantee the Deputy that the keys will be handed back.

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