Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The 50-bed ward block at Sacred Heart Hospital and Care Home on the Golf Links Road in Roscommon is going to take a leap forward today. Senator Eugene Murphy is here and this has been a major issue for him and many other public representatives. They have stressed the urgent need for this development and have advocated for it for years. The Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, Deputy Mary Butler, will attend the turning of the sod ceremony at 3 p.m. today. This is a residential home. The Sacred Heart Hospital can provide respite and rehabilitation services to nearly 75 people. It is currently organised into four different units. Along with all of this, it also delivers therapy. People can access physiotherapy. It is about bringing together access to all of these health supports in one space and we want to see more of that across the country. We want to deliver this type of care for people. The facility also has an occupational therapy room. There is an activities group and team that considers everything it can do for people in the facility. A brand new 50-bed community nursing unit is now going to be constructed. It will also consider parking and how to develop the space. This is welcome and we need more. We need the HSE spatial plan for Roscommon University Hospital. We need to know how we are supporting access to better space for day surgeries in the hospital, along with parking in Roscommon town. This is, however, a great day. It is great that this investment in development is happening and will start today.