Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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24. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 30 March 2022, his plans to restore respite provision in Galway city and county to pre-Covid levels; the number of respite beds currently provided in the Merlin Park older peoples services short stay unit; the timeline for when admissions to the unit will increase to the promised thirteen-bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26793/22]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Respite capacity across public units has been significantly impacted by Covid-19. Since autumn 2021, the Community Health Organisation in Galway has sought to re-open publicly funded respite beds in line with post-pandemic requirements to meet Infection, Prevention and Control measures.

The current number of operational respite beds in Co. Galway is 10, 7 of which are in Merlin Park Community Nursing Unit.

A number of respite beds in Merlin Park which were operational pre-Covid-19 were closed temporarily for remedial works to ensure HIQA compliance. The HSE confirmed that remedial works are complete and envision that the 13 respite beds will be operational by August 2022.

Currently, there are several measures being used to mitigate against a reduction in respite services in Galway. Emergency respite protocol is in operation linking with families to provide emergency respite through in-home supports or placement in nursing homes. Day services continue to reopen across Galway assisting families in caring for their family members at home. Western Alzheimer’s also have 12 respite beds available to clients.

Increasing respite provision in Galway is essential to provide older people with the range of services they require. I want to assure you that the continued provision of increased respite services in Galway is a priority and I have requested that the HSE keep me updated on any further developments.