Nursing Homes
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-22
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Brian Stanley (IND), Laois

That is fine but St. Anne's ward is HIQA-approved already. The rooms are en suite. The Minister of State needs to have a look at this, as he has responsibility for older people. The Minister also needs to look at it. I say this in a very positive way. They will soon be there cutting the ribbon. That will be a good day for care of the elderly. I have argued long and hard here for the past 15 years, as have other Deputies, for the new wing in Mountmellick, and it is there now. We have a chronic shortage of nursing home beds. Not a week goes by but families are looking to get their loved ones into Mountmellick or Abbeyleix. The population in the county is mushrooming, especially of the elderly. There is a real chance here to get a gain. On the day when the Minister of State or the Minister is down to cut the ribbon, or before it – it will be a great day when it happens – will they visit St. Anne's ward? They have to see it. They were in Limerick opening the new hospital wings there. The wings are needed and that commitment was fulfilled.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:32+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-22