Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator O'Donovan for raising this issue. It provides me with an opportunity to update the House on this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. As the Senator is aware, Government policy is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Where this is not feasible, the health service supports access to appropriate quality long-term residential care, including the provision of financial assistance under the nursing homes support scheme. In 2012, with a budget of almost ¤1 billion, financial support was provided to more than 22,000 people in nursing homes.

The Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health and personal social services, including those at facilities such as Bandon Community Hospital in Cork. Bandon Community Hospital, as the Senator well knows, was built in the 1930s and has been extended and refurbished over the intervening years. There are 22 beds at the hospital providing continuing, respite and palliative care. There is a very high level of demand for the hospital's services and other similar services in the area are in short supply. With an ageing population, as the Senator has pointed out, it is envisaged that the demand for beds at the hospital will continue to grow. During the past five years approximately ¤300,000 capital funding has been spent on refurbishments at the hospital. An additional ¤74,000 was spent on fire safety measures and the hospital received a fire safety certificate of compliance in 2012. The Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, is pleased to say that the hospital has been confirmed as meeting relevant HIQA standards for three years with effect from 28 June 2012.

Current constraints on public sector staffing and recruitment, the ongoing need to meet service and safety standards, and severe financial constraints all pose challenges for community nursing units across the country. The Department of Health is working closely with the HSE to develop an overall plan which will seek to protect the viability of as many units as possible within the funding and staffing resources that are available. The future of Bandon Community Hospital will be considered in this context. All options will be considered to deliver an optimal outcome for those who need these services, and this will include service consolidation, skill mix considerations, and a review of work practices. All developments must be addressed in light of the current economic and budgetary pressures and any decisions taken by the HSE must, unfortunately, be planned against the realities of these constraints. Every effort will be made to ensure that the highest standards of care will continue to be provided to all residents in a safe and secure environment, and that we meet the needs of those who need our services in the very best way possible.