Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Is mór an scannal é i ndáiríre go bhfuil naoi leaba folamh in Áras Mhic Dara cé go bhfuil 12 duine ar an liosta feithimh mar go bhfuil cúram ón áras sin ag teastáil go géar uathu. Bhí geallúintí ón Rialtas air seo cheana. Teastaíonn gníomh anois ón Rialtas agus ón HSE. Agus muid i mbun plé anocht, tá na naoi leaba sin folamh agus, ag an am céanna, tá 73 duine ar thralaithe san ospidéal i nGaillimh. Ní dhéanann sé sin ciall ar bith. Tá tuilleadh brú á chur ar an ospidéal agus brú á chur ar dhaoine atá ag iarraidh a gcúram sláinte a fháil níos gaire don bhaile. Ní scéal nua é seo. Tá feachtas ar siúl ar An gCeathrú Rua ar feadh na mblianta. Anois, tá Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte ag rá linn gur fadhb foirne é agus nach mbeidh na leapacha sin oscailte go dtí an t-earrach ar a thúisce. Teastaíonn gníomh láithreach.

It is an absolute scandal that we have nine beds empty in Áras Mhic Dara in Carraroe tonight while 12 people are on a waiting list waiting to get the healthcare they need from the áras. There had been promises on this from the Government previously. We now need the HSE and the Government to work together to try to resolve this immediately. While we are having this debate here tonight, there are 73 people on trolleys in University Hospital Galway. That is 73 people who are unwell and need care. They are getting that care but they do not have beds. All the while, these nine beds lie empty. It does not make sense at all. I am sure the Minister of State would agree that situation does not make sense. It is also just wrong. There has been a long-standing campaign in Carraroe to see this facility used to provide the capacity that is needed for the community but now we hear from the HSE that these beds will open in spring at the earliest. That is just unacceptable. We need urgent action now. I hope the Minister of State can give us some news today.

John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Ar nós mo chomhghleacaí, cuirim fáilte roimh an deis an t-ábhar seo a ardú agus ceist na leapacha in Áras Mhic Dara a phlé anseo anocht. Má fhaigheann sé deis, molaim don Aire Stáit an tuairisc is déanaí ó HIQA ar Áras Mhic Dara a léamh. Taispeánann sé cé chomh hard is atá an caighdeán cúraim san ionad. Is aoibhinn an rud é sin d'éinne a bhfuil duine dá chlann san ionad seo. Táimid ag brath ar an bhfoireann ansin agus ar na daoine ar fad atá ag obair ann.

If the Minister of State gets the opportunity, he should read the most recent HIQA report on Áras Mhic Dara. It highlights the good management and the care the residents are getting there. Anybody who has a loved one in the centre can rest assured that he or she is getting a very high quality of care. However, we have to ponder why there are nine beds empty in the facility on an ongoing basis. Last month, I asked the Department of Health if it could outline the increased number of community nursing beds planned for County Galway. The answer I got was that a business plan was being submitted from older person's services to address the provision of additional beds in a number of community nursing units. This response referred to an additional nine beds for Merlin Park, an additional 12 beds for Clifden District Hospital, an additional five beds for the community nursing unit in Tuam, eight beds for St. Brendan's Community Nursing Unit in Loughrea, six beds for Ballinasloe Community Nursing Unit and an additional nine beds for Áras Mhic Dara.

However, there is no point in telling us 49 additional beds are coming on stream if we cannot be guaranteed we can recruit the staff to make sure they can be open for the patients who need them. In a general sense, we have to review and look at the recruitment and retention of nursing staff in the country. I understand there is a process in train to staff these beds but it has been difficult to complete.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputies Farrell and Connolly for raising this important matter. Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit provides important and valued services for the people in Carraroe and surrounding areas. I understand the significant role the community nursing unit plays in the community and the depth of feeling associated with the facility. Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit is registered with HIQA to accommodate a maximum of 38 residents for long-term residential care, which both Deputies have mentioned. The HSE has advised that currently 29 beds are open and nine beds are vacant due to staffing challenges. Both Deputies have referenced this.

Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit cannot admit any more residents at present as the opening of additional beds is dependent on safe staffing levels. As the Deputies are aware, there are challenges in recruiting staff in community nursing units and community hospitals in more rural locations. Unfortunately, staff shortages can have an impact on bed capacity at times. The number of beds open at any time is dependent on safe staffing levels, and this is monitored on an ongoing basis in line with the recruitment of staff. To ensure the safety of residents and staff, bed capacity is configured around adequate staffing levels, and an appropriate staff skill mix must be in place.

I assure the Deputies that HSE west and north west is committed to filling all vacant posts in Áras Mhic Dara, and in all community hospitals and CNUs in the region, and will continue to explore all available options to fill these posts. It is currently planned that an additional 14 whole-time equivalents will be required to open the additional beds in Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit in Carraroe. To enable recruitment of approved and funded positions, the HSE has progressed recruitment campaigns for staff nurses and multitask attendants. Both of these campaigns have now closed and shortlisting for these positions has commenced. Interviews will soon be scheduled by the HSE and recruitment will commence in due course. The HSE envisages reopening beds in Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit once staff are recruited at the start of the new year. I assure the Deputies that I am committed to working alongside the HSE to address all concerns in respect of the residential care of older persons in Áras Mhic Dara now and over the coming years.

I have followed up with the Department and the HSE today and previously. I am arranging to meet the HSE myself directly with officials. I want to see precisely what is happening. We know recruitment is under way for nine very important and beneficial beds for older people in the area. The commitment I give tonight is that in a practical and proactive way, I and officials will meet the HSE to see exactly what is happening, and to see how we can expedite getting the staff in place for the nine beds to have the full complement open as quickly as possible. This is the proactive measure I am putting forward tonight.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Is maith an rud é sin agus cuirim fáilte roimhe. Sin an cineál gnímh atá ag teastáil ón Rialtas le feiceáil cén bealach gur féidir linn an fhadhb seo a réiteach. Is dócha go bhfuil fadhb níos leithne ann freisin. Aon uair a dhúntar leapacha i gceantar tuaithe, an chéad rud a deirtear ná nach féidir foireann a earcú. Léiríonn sé sin go bhfuil fadhb ann. Caithfimid breathnú ar céard iad na fadhbanna atá ann le foireann a earcú faoin tuath agus cén bealach gur féidir linn réiteach a fháil ar an gceist sin. I really welcome the fact the Minister of State has said he will meet the HSE on this. It is a very proactive step. It is a step we could have only hoped for in raising this. The issue here is obviously broader. Any time there is an issue with step-down facilities and hospitals in rural areas, we are continuously told it is an issue with recruitment. If it is an issue with recruitment, we need to look at what we can do to assist recruitment in these rural areas. It has happened in Clifden and it is now happening in Carraroe.

John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Aontaím le mo chomhghleacaí. Cuirim fáilte roimh an gealltanas go bhfuil an tAire Stáit chun casadh leis na hoifigigh áitiúla ansin. Tá sé geallta aige go bhfuil sé ag iarraidh an fhadhb a réiteach chomh luath agus is féidir chun na leapacha sin a oscailt. Is dócha go bhfuil ábhar níos leithne anseo. There is a wider issue certainly. One of the things I noted is that in 2024, of the 17,168 critical skills employment permits given out in the country, more than 5,000 of them were for nursing staff. We have to examine something here. We have to examine whether we are training a sufficient number of nurses in our third level sector. Are we giving them the conditions and the work settings that make it possible for them to pursue their careers at home? Anecdotally we might hear that many of our nursing graduates go abroad because conditions are better. We need to examine this carefully, particularly if we have situations where in our own communities, in facilities that are State run and State led, we cannot have the complete suite of beds open. There is a bigger issue here but I thank the Minister of State and I welcome the fact he will meet local officials. I hope that we can see resolution of the issue soon.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I again thank Deputies Farrell and Connolly for raising this important matter in respect of Aras Mhic Dara community nursing unit in Carraroe. As I said previously, I will meet the HSE on the particular issue of the nine beds, which is the principal issue raised this evening in the House. I take account of the wider issues in the region in terms of rural and community nursing homes and it is something else I will discuss. The particular issue of the nine beds in Áras Mhic Dara is critical. As I said, there are 38 beds registered in Áras Mhic Dara and 29 of these are open. They cannot have any more residents at present as the opening of these beds is dependent on safe staffing levels. As I said earlier, HSE west and north west is committed to filling all vacant posts in Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit and is exploring all available options to fill these posts. These include the current recruitment campaign for staff nurses and multitask attendants.

I assure Deputies Farrell and Connolly that all efforts are being made on a continuous basis to ensure staffing is in place to maximise the residential capacity in the facility. Once the full complement of staff has been recruited to Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit, the HSE will in a position to open the remaining nine beds. As I said, the HSE and I are committed to maximising all available services for older people and the Connemara region. The HSE continuously reviews its services in line with population health planning and Sláintecare principles to ensure adequate and appropriate residential care services are available for our older population. In a very practical way, as I stated, I have already put the wheels in motion in terms of meeting the HSE, and I hope to do this relatively quickly to see what is the specific situation in terms of recruiting staff to open the nine beds and have the full complement of 38 beds in Áras Mhic Dara community nursing home in Carraroe.