John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to New Ross Community Hospital in County Wexford towards running costs and refurbishments to meet Health Information and Quality Authority standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21056/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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New Ross Community Hospital Ltd. is a voluntary organisation providing long term residential and short term care. As an approved centre for the purposes of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme residents can receive financial support towards their cost of care at New Ross. The hospital also receives funding from the HSE under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004.

Since 2009 all nursing homes - public, voluntary (including New Ross Community Hospital) and private - have been registered and inspected by HIQA. I understand that significant refurbishment works are required at the hospital to comply with HIQA standards. If a centre is not in compliance by July 2015 it must agree a realistic time bound costed plan with the Authority. This is a matter for the management of the Hospital and HIQA.

Demand for capital investment for the Community Nursing Unit programme far exceeds the funding available, and investment must therefore be allocated as effectively as possible based on the HSE's assessment of priorities. At present this funding programme focuses on the upgrade and refurbishment of existing public facilities to achieve compliance with HIQA.

I understand that the HSE has worked closely with New Ross Community Hospital in relation to the challenges faced and will continue to support them in every way possible.