Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

St. Vincent's Community Nursing Unit, Mountmellick, County Laois, is a public nursing home that currently provides 56 long-stay beds and one short-stay bed. Phase 1 of the current capital project for St. Vincent's consists of a new two-storey development containing 50 single en suite rooms adjacent and linked to the existing facility.

The project is expected to be construction complete in the next few weeks.

It is currently expected that St. Vincent’s will be operational in Q1 of 2026, following the transfer of residents, the reviewing of staff rosters and the application to vary the registration with HIQA. When complete, St. Vincent's will be registered for 58 beds consisting of 57 long-stay beds and one short-stay bed.

The eight-bed dementia unit in the existing building will continue to operate. The HSE has advised that they are reviewing plans in respect of the future use of the existing facility. However, the main kitchen, canteen, laundry, and storerooms will continue to be accessed by staff. The church will also continue to be accessed by residents and staff as required, and daycare will remain operational in its current location.

The scale and scope of future additional phasing of capital works at St. Vincent’s is currently being reviewed by the HSE, and once completed, the specific scope for phase 2 of the capital project will be determined.

Specifically on the matter raised, as I said, the HSE is currently reviewing plans in respect of future use of the existing facility. More particularly, the HSE is currently in the initiation phase of project planning for utilisation of the existing building, necessitating complete refurbishment, taking account of the demands for additional rehab, long- and short-stay beds in the community nursing unit, CNU. Any development in the old St. Vincent's building will be subject to capital and revenue funding approval.

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