Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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181. To ask the Minister for Health if he can advise regarding correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24200/24]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Act 2007 prohibits the operation of a designated centre unless it is registered with the Chief Inspector of Social Services. HIQA, as the regulator, have to inspect and register all new Community Nursing Unit facilities prior to them opening. The new facilities at St. Camillus Community Hospital must be registered by HIQA before being brought into use.

A HIQA inspection took place on 11 December 2023, where a number of issues within the 50 bed unit that needed to be addressed were highlighted. All of these items have been addressed by HSE Estates Department/Contractor/Maintenance Department, with one item outstanding.

HSE Estates are addressing this item and HIQA are satisfied that while works are ongoing, as the ground floor courtyard will not be accessible, residents will need to be offered alternative outdoor space during this period of works. This will not prevent the new facility from opening.

There is an outstanding issue in relation to governance and management structures at St. Camillus and the HSE is actively examining the feasibility of alternative governance arrangements to meet HIQA requirements. There is active and ongoing engagement between the HSE and HIQA in an effort to resolve this issue.

In order to safely open St. Camillus for residents, there are also a number of staff deficits that need to be addressed. The HSE is actively working, alongside the Department of Health, to ensure that the necessary staff are recruited at the earliest possible opportunity and that all of the beds in St. Camillus are fully operational as soon as possible.