2026-02-25

I raise the issue of Droimnín private nursing home in Stradbally, County Laois, and ask the HSE to give serious consideration to retaining this facility on a full-time, permanent basis. As the Minister of State is aware, following an application by HIQA under section 59 of the Health Act 2007, the High Court directed the HSE to assume responsibility for the operation of the nursing home as a provider of last resort. This followed serious and persistent non-compliance identified during the HIQA inspections in April and September 2025, relating to governance, staffing, care planning, healthcare delivery and residents' rights. As widely reported, the HSE has now taken operational control of the centre. I acknowledge the overriding priority has rightly been the safety, care and welfare of the residents of Droimnín nursing home. Enhanced clinical oversight, health professional supports, staff education and daily senior level monitoring are now in place and the residents cared for safely, with no current infectious disease outbreaks. I also believe this intervention presents an important strategic opportunity for the care of the elderly in County Laois. Droimnín is a 70-bed, HIQA-registered designated centre, providing long-term respite and step-down care. It serves the wider Laois region. It is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built building. At the time the HSE stepped in, approximately 40 residents, many of them highly dependent, were living in the centre. County Laois has experienced a chronic shortage of nursing home places in and around Stradbally and the surrounding areas. Families are under severe pressure, with long waiting times, limited local options and increasing dependence on placements outside of the county. This places further strain on patients, carers and acute hospitals. I ask the Minister to consider if the most appropriate course of action is for the HSE to retain Droimnín as a publicly-operated nursing home on a permanent basis. We do not want this valuable capacity lost to the system. While there may not be a precedent for such a decision, I am asking the Minister of State to outline whether permanent HSE ownership and operation of Droimnín is actively being examined, how this facility could contribute to addressing the shortage of long-term and step-down care beds in County Laois, what engagement is taking place with HIQA and other stakeholders on a long-term governance model and what assurances can be given to residents and families to safeguard continuity, stability and the future capacity of the centre. There are many people in my own area around Portlaoise who have to go to nursing homes outside of County Laois. Droimnín is a nursing home in County Laois. I ask the Minister of State to endeavour to do everything possible under the guidance of his Ministry.

I thank Deputy Aird for raising this very important matter. On Wednesday, 4 February 2026, following an application by HIQA under section 59 of the Health Act 2007, an order was made by Portlaoise District Court cancelling the registration of Droimnín nursing home. The HSE was directed to step in and take over operational control of the centre, acting as the provider of last resort. The focus at this time is to ensure the safety, care and welfare of the residents living in the nursing home while longer-term arrangements are progressed. The Deputy has already alluded to that. Droimnín nursing home is situated in Stradbally, County Laois. The nursing home was registered to accommodate up to 70 residents and to provide long-term, respite and step-down care. HIQA inspections in April and September 2025 identified significant and persistent non-compliance across a range of regulations with issues identified pertaining to governance and management, staffing and training, care planning and healthcare and residents’ rights and complaints procedures. HIQA subsequently sought cancellation of the centre’s registration, leading to the court direction requiring HSE intervention. At the time, the HSE assumed control, there were 39 residents living in Droimnín nursing home. We must ensure that the highest standards of care are provided to all nursing home residents and ensure they are maintained in a safe and secure environment. Their safety and well-being are of paramount concern. The HSE has put an interim management and clinical governance structure in place, including the appointment of a person in charge, supported by senior operational and clinical teams. Arrangements are in place to ensure appropriate staffing, payroll and clinical oversight. Following the HSE intervention, the 39 residents have benefitted from consultant geriatrician reviews and individual GP correspondence, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and tissue viability nursing input, and access to education and training programmes for staff. The HSE’s intervention is solely focused on protecting residents in Droimnín nursing home and ensuring continuity of safe, appropriate care. Residents in Droimnín nursing home remain in place and are being cared for in a safe, supportive environment. The situation continues to be actively monitored at senior HSE level with daily oversight and contingency planning in place. The HSE has assured me that it will keep the position under review while engaging with HIQA and other stakeholders on the next steps. Ensuring the welfare and safety of the residents is secured is of the utmost importance, and work to alleviate the concerns of residents, their families and staff is a priority during this difficult time. I know how important this is to Deputy Aird. He knows many of the residents in Droimnín nursing home. I met with the HSE in the days following the HSE taking over the nursing home and discussed clearly the procedure that we are putting in place. As the Deputy said, it has moved to put a range of measures in place in terms of the welfare and safety of residents. All options have been explored by the HSE for Droimnín nursing home. The particular issue the Deputy has put forward is being considered by the HSE as well. At this moment, however, the most important thing is to ensure the welfare and safety of residents and that they feel they are in secure environment in Droimnín nursing home. That is very much happening with the HSE in situ operating the nursing home.

I thank the Minister of State for his response and note his comments. It is acknowledged that Ireland’s population is ageing, and this will bring significant challenges. We must plan proactively to meet these needs. There are three HSE nursing homes in County Laois: one in Abbeyleix, St. Brigid's Hospital in Shaen and St. Vincent's community nursing unit in Mountmellick. While I mention St. Vincent's community nursing home, I am delighted to see that the new 50-bed extension is nearing completion. I urge the HSE to proceed without delay with the remaining phases to deliver the full complement of beds. I must make it very clear that the situation in Droimnín nursing home arose from regulatory failure but it now offers the State an opportunity to strengthen public nursing home provision in an area of growing need. This is a chance to secure long-term, high-quality, publicly delivered care for the older people in County Laois. I visited St. Vincent's hospital in Mountmellick the other evening. It is a hospital that is very near and dear to my heart because my late mother worked there for many years. When the new extension or new build is open, I urge the Minister of State to consider revamping the existing rooms that are available in the hospital. That is very important. I walked through the hospital and spoke to people. I know many people who are there and there was not one patient - those who could interact with me - who had nothing but the height of praise. I want to take this opportunity - I do not often get it - to thank all the people and staff in the nursing home in St. Vincent's in Mountmellick. The single biggest problem in St. Vincent's hospital, which Members here all know as public representatives, is to try to get people into it and have beds available. That is the biggest problem. It shows the care and attention the patients are getting in St. Vincent's hospital. There is just one little thing I would ask the Minister of State to raise when he is in discussion there. I hope the church there, which is visited by the patients many times a day on a daily basis, is linked to the new build so people can come and go as they would be used to doing over many years in St. Vincent's.

Once again, I thank Deputy Aird for raising this important matter of Droimnín nursing home in Stradbally. As I said earlier, all options are being explored by the HSE. Specifically, in terms of St. Vincent's in Mountmellick, I know the Deputy has a keen interest in that community nursing home run by the HSE. I would like to give him clarity on a couple of points. First, the church will continue to be accessed by residents and staff, as required, and the day care will remain operational in its current location. The specific point the Deputy raised in respect of linking the new building and the church is something I will take up with the HSE. I have no doubt the Deputy will have written to the HSE on it in his own way. It is expected that the existing residents' transition to the new building will be during the week beginning 23 March. Furthermore, as the Deputy is aware, the eight-bed dementia unit will continue to operate in the existing building. The HSE is looking at doing a feasibility study on the existing building to see what can be done within it and its utilisation across a range of areas, including additional rehab and long-stay and short-stay beds in the community nursing unit, CNU. That is a general summary of where we are with St. Vincent's in Mountmellick. The residents will transition very shortly. It is a 58-bed unit consisting of 57 long-stay beds and one short-stay bed. I will take that particular issue the Deputy raised in respect of the church up with the HSE and I ask him to follow up with it as well. I will finish on Droimnín nursing home. It is worthwhile to acknowledge and thank both HIQA and the HSE for their prompt and personal response to the situation. As I said, poor care, mistreatment, neglect or any form of abuse of any person living in long-term care is completely unacceptable. The primary focus is ensuring that we protect the safety and welfare of the 39 residents in Droimnín nursing home. That is obviously the key focus. In terms of the other matter the Deputy raised, all options are being explored by the HSE.