Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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I wish to raise the proposed closure of Crooksling hospital in Brittas. This is a high dependency unit that cares for the elderly from the surround areas. The majority of residents need a high level of care as some are non-verbal and unable to feed or clothe themselves and require round the clock care. The staff provide very good care.

I have visited this unit on occasions and experienced the homely atmosphere and could see the happiness oozing out of the residents. The way the staff treat the patients and the services they provide to then is second to none. This unit has reached the standards set by HIQA.

It is paramount that this unit is supported by the Department of Health, the HSE to ensure this older building reaches the standard it would like to reach. I would say that the building could do with a major upgrade. The hospital is located in a beautiful sylvan setting in the woods of Brittas on a large site and the residents can look out on the animals. This is an ideal location for the nursing home, which has been there for years. I hope the HSE will be able to invest in it from its capital plan. I would like the Minister to comment on that.

There is sufficient acreage to extend the nursing home and make it much larger. It would serve a much wider catchment area. I ask the Minister of State to comment on that as well. It caters for the most vulnerable people in our society. It caters for people who have done the State a huge service by working for many years and now they find that they need care. It is up to us to ensure that the older people in my community are looked after and that the staff are facilitated by having modern facilities. This home provides good care but I would very much like to see an injection of capital so that it is upgraded and expanded.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I thank Senator Keane for raising this issue. The overarching policy of the Government is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible and to support access to quality long-term residential care where this is appropriate.

When it becomes necessary for an older person to move to a nursing home, their safety and well-being is paramount. We have to ensure the highest standards of care are provided to all residents in a safe and secure environment, and that we meet, in the best possible way, the needs of those who require our services. The HSE is responsible for the delivery of health and personal social services, including those at St Brigid's Hospital, Crooksling. As the Senator is aware, St. Brigid's provides residential services for 66 people and day care services to about 15 people from Tallaght, Clondalkin, Blessington, Saggart and Rathcoole. These services will continue into the foreseeable future. Notwithstanding better economic news recently, resource availability remains tight for the HSE across all its services. In the case of community nursing units, there are challenges regarding staffing, funding and the age and structure of the unit, as the Senator has pointed out, but the Department and the HSE are working on an ongoing basis to address these issues. I assure the Senator that no decision has been taken to close St. Brigid's. The hospital registered with HIQA in June 2012 for a period of three years and the HSE has confirmed to me it will apply to re-register the hospital with HIQA. Residents and their families can be assured that management and staff will continue to work to provide the highest possible standards at St. Brigid's.

I take the point made by Senator Keane that we have an ageing infrastructure which requires significant investment. That is something we are working on, even as we speak.

Caít Keane (Fine Gael)
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It is an ideal location for a nursing home, but it could do with an upgrade. Will the Minister of State return when she is in a position to provide an injection of capital funding for that nursing home? As I have said, the services are second to none. Community care and the outreach programme are very important, but this home also takes people that other nursing homes decline to take because of their high dependency, and the staff are well able to care for their needs round the clock. This is an ideal location for a further capital injection to ensure it is enhanced and expanded. I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could come back to me in the not too distant future.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I will.