Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Wall for raising this issue. Clearly he is in touch with the community there and is aware of the anguish that this type of move causes, the anxiety not just among the residents and their families but the community too, as people are worried about the future of residents. I wish to assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to ensure that proper care is given and that they are accommodated.

The new programme for Government has highlighted the importance of our community services for older people, which assist them to remain independent and live in their own homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible. Many older people living at home rely on the services they receive through day centres and the outreach those centres provide, which often includes meals on wheels services. Allenwood daycare centre is a HSE-funded service in Kildare that was managed and operated by the St. Vincent de Paul through a service level arrangement for daycare and meals on wheels services in Allenwood and the surrounding area. As a private, voluntary organisation, decisions about the closure of the service and the employment of staff rest with St. Vincent de Paul. In December 2024, St. Vincent de Paul issued a temporary notice of closure to the people who use this service and notified the HSE older persons services accordingly. The HSE reported that there were 34 active service users at the time when the closure was notified. HSE older persons services contacted all the people affected by this closure, offering them an alternative daycare place from 28 January.

On 4 March 2025, the HSE received formal written notice from St. Vincent de Paul that the Allenwood daycare service would remain closed permanently and would cease provision of meals on wheels from 28 March 2025. St. Vincent de Paul has advised the HSE that it has notified all services users of these closures. The HSE sourced alternative daycare places for service users of the Allenwood daycare service in the St. Conleth’s daycare centre in Kildare town. The HSE is providing transport for the service users four days per week, from Monday to Thursday. Some 18 clients have agreed to be referred to the St. Conleth’s daycare centre and 13 clients have confirmed start dates. As the Deputy has mentioned, five have declined attending this alternative daycare for the moment.

Additionally, a new meals on wheels provider has been sourced and will commence this service on 1 April 2025. All meals on wheels service users have been contacted by the HSE to advise them of this. The HSE is seeking an alternative daycare provider for the Allenwood daycare service and, in the longer term, it is planned that the day service will move to Kilmeague health care centre. Refurbishment works are under way currently and are expected to be completed by June 2025. In the meantime, it is essential that all of the people who relied on this service continue to be provided with reasonable alternatives.

I totally appreciate the concern the Deputy has highlighted here, the concerns that have been expressed on local radio. There is a few months of a gap between now and June, when they hope the new centre in Kilmeague will be open. I will endeavour to bring that message clearly back to the Department to ensure that the opening of the new centre at Kilmeague happens as soon as possible, and that everybody is accommodated in the best way possible.

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