Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell.

Garret Kelleher (Fine Gael)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta O'Donnell, as ucht teacht isteach maidin inniu chun déileáil leis an ní seo, a bhaineann le Westgate Foundation i mBaile an Chollaigh i gCorcaigh. Tá sé riachtanach go ndéanfar gach aon iarracht na seirbhísí iontacha atá á soláthar ag Westgate Foundation a chosaint. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as an obair ar fad atá déanta aige ar son Westgate Foundation agus as an gcuairt a thug sé air i mí an Mhárta chun na seirbhísí ar fad a fheiscint agus chun bualadh leis an bhfoireann bainistíochta, chomh maith le lucht bainistíochta HSE.

Mar is eol don Aire Stáit, is fíorthábhachtach an rud é cinnteacht a thabhairt do Westgate Foundation faoi thodhchaí na heagraíochta agus seans a thabhairt don fhoireann bainistíochta na seirbhísí a fhorbairt i gcomhréir leis na riachtanais atá ag dul i méid i measc daoine aosta inár bpobal i mBaile an Chollaigh agus sna ceantair mórthimpeall orainn. Ballincollig is a very special place. It is a thriving and progressive town with a fantastic community spirit, a culture of volunteerism and a strong sense of togetherness and inclusion. At the heart of our community, quietly catering for the needs of our senior citizens, is the Westgate Foundation. Westgate provides invaluable services to our senior citizens and the areas surrounding Ballincollig. These services include a day care programme led by nurses and healthcare assistants, community catering with meals-on-wheels, social activities and transport.

The work done by the team at Westgate Foundation enables older people in our community to stay at home and live independently while maintaining a vital social connection. The services provided give Westgate clients the support they need to maintain and enjoy this independence. Without the provision of these community-based services, there is no doubt that the likelihood of elderly service users requiring home care packages and nursing home support would increase significantly. A majority of service users have considerable health challenges associated with growing old, including dementia, declining mobility, and the adverse impacts of social isolation.

As the Minister of State is aware, Westgate Foundation is reliant on section 39 State funding, administered through the HSE South West, to provide services to senior citizens. It has become increasingly apparent over the past number of years that the funding provided through the service level agreement is no longer sufficient to maintain services at their current levels. This issue has been dealt with at irregular intervals and on an ad hoc basis by the HSE in recent years when it has been recognised that the core funding provided is inadequate and top-up payments of various amounts have been made in an effort to ensure the continuity the services.

As the Minister of State is aware, one of the primary reasons for the increased costs being borne by Westgate Foundation is related to the fact that the organisation had been heavily dependent on the community employment scheme, which is an unsustainable position given that the economy is effectively operating at full employment. It is of a crucial importance that Westgate is given the financial support and certainty from the State that it needs to ensure its future and long-term viability at the heart of the Ballincollig community. The Minister of State will be aware from his recent visit that there are long waiting lists for services. These waiting lists are primarily administered through HSE referrals and public health nurses locally.That lends further emphasis to the fact that needs are growing and there is increasing demand in the community. Financial certainty is required on a long-term basis to ensure the viability of the organisation. I thank the Minister of State for the support he has given thus far in relation to these challenges.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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Before I call on the Minister of State, I would like to acknowledge Senator Kelleher's parents in the Gallery. It is great to see them here for the Senator's debate.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I join the Leas-Chathaoirleach in welcoming the Kellehers to the Seanad, which is a beautiful building in its own right.

I thank Senator Kelleher for raising this important matter. He has advocated for Westgate Foundation over a sustained period of time and that has to be acknowledged. I know the work it does is close to his heart. I know first-hand because I visited the Westgate Foundation centre with him. I found it to be warm and engaging and it provides a great service to its community. I thank all the people involved.

It is a key priority for the Government to support older people to remain living independently in their own homes and communities for as long as possible with dignity, choice and appropriate supports. The triangle of supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels services — including dementia-specific supports — plays a vital role in helping older people to age well in their own communities. Meals on wheels services provide much more than nutritious meals. They are an invaluable resource in helping older people maintain their health and independence while also addressing social isolation. The services benefit not only those who receive meals, but also their families, who gain reassurance from regular contact and support for their loved ones. Day care services are similarly an essential component of social care provision. They provide opportunities for social engagement, health monitoring and community participation for older people who may otherwise be at risk of isolation and loneliness.

The Government has significantly increased investment in meals on wheels services in recent years. Funding increased from €3.5 million in 2022 to €6.25 million in 2025, with a further €2 million allocated in budget 2026 to support service expansion and maintenance. Nationally, almost 2.94 million meals were delivered in 2025, while funding has been allocated to deliver 3.3 million meals during 2026.

To the Senator's specific point, the HSE advises that Westgate Foundation plays an important role in supporting older people in their communities through the provision of day care and meals on wheels services. From visiting with the Senator, I have seen that at first hand. The organisation currently operates a day care service four days per week, supporting approximately 60 registered users, and a meals on wheels service with 104 registered users.

The HSE has advised that increased funding has been committed to support the organisation. Total funding of over €520,000 was provided in 2025, while agreed funding for 2026 amounts to almost €686,000, including core section 39 funding, once-off supports, WRC funding and meals on wheels funding. In addition, Westgate Foundation received €25,000 under the community capital programme.

The HSE continues to engage closely with the organisation regarding its operational and financial position, staffing arrangements and service delivery needs to older people in the area. I welcome the ongoing engagement between HSE South West and Westgate Foundation and I look forward to the continued provision of these valuable services for older people and their families in the greater Ballincollig area. I understand meetings will take place in the coming days between HSE South West and Westgate Foundation. It is a hugely important service that Westgate Foundation provides. I know how committed the Senator is to advocating on its behalf.

Garret Kelleher (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response and acknowledge the behind-the-scenes work going on between the HSE management in the south-west region and the management team at Westgate, which is crucial.

I neglected to mention one thing in my initial contribution, of which the Minister of State will be well aware. It was opportune he came down and visited, given he is also a Minister of State in the Department of housing. It is the fact that Westgate provides housing and sheltered housing. I mentioned in my opening remarks that there is a strong voluntary and community spirit. One service user and resident in Westgate is in her 90s and is an active member of Ballincollig Tidy Towns. She is somebody of whom we as a community are very proud. The fact she is in Westgate and able to participate and volunteer at local level speaks volumes about the independence it affords to people.

There is an ongoing conversation in Cork on the development of light rail, the Luas line, with Ballincollig being on the western side of that. A lot of people contacting me locally were lobbying for the extension of the Luas line further west and one of the key reasons was to include Westgate. It is recognised Westgate is at the heart of the community.

I emphasise again the urgency with which this must be dealt with. It is a matter of immediate concern to the management team in Westgate and it is causing stress. We need to deliver certainty and predictability so the future of the organisation can be guaranteed.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I again thank the Senator for raising Westgate Foundation in Ballincollig and the work it does on behalf of the community, particularly older people. The Senator referred to housing on-site. It is very much an integrated model. I could see how committed the staff and the board, many of them voluntary, were.

The HSE has confirmed it continues to work closely with the Westgate Foundation regarding its operational and financial position. Meetings have taken place between the HSE and Westgate in relation to organisational and funding requirements, staffing arrangements and service delivery. Further meetings are to take place in the coming days between HSE South West and Westgate Foundation to discuss the situation. The shared objective of the HSE and Westgate Foundation is to ensure high-quality day care and meals on wheels services continue to be available to older people who rely on them, particularly in the greater Ballincollig area. These services make a real difference to the lives of older people, helping them remain connected, supported and independent in their communities.

I welcome the continued engagement between HSE and Westgate Foundation and look forward to seeing these important services maintained and strengthened for the benefit of older people and their families in the greater Ballincollig area.