Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is a priority for the Government to allow more people to engage in services that allow them to remain independent and live in their own homes. The HSE has operational responsibility for planning, managing and delivering health and personal social services.

The HSE has advised that it intends to use part of the revamped Health Centre building at Macroom Hospital as a new Day Care Centre for the older population of Macroom and the surrounding areas, including people living with dementia in the region. Pending the renovations, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s one-day dementia-specific day care service for Macroom is currently operating out of Ballyvourney.

The HSE also advised that significant extension and refurbishment works continue at Macroom Community Hospital in order to comply with statutory requirements and HIQA regulations. While these refurbishment works on the main hospital have been ongoing, HSE staff have been decanted at various stages to the Health Centre building. The ambulance service is also still currently operating out of this building and this usage is likely to continue into the first months of this year.

Allocation of capital funding for the Day Care Centre project in Macroom is still awaited. Following same, the HSE will progress to the tender phase and, once that phase has been completed, timelines will be established for progression and completion of this project.