Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for following up on the audit. I have the advantage of having the answer before me but the specific figures for the homes are not in the answer. Will the Minister give us those figures? Concerning the audit carried out in 2022 following the Minister of State's intervention, is a copy available? Is it public? I am in Galway city; I am a firm believer in the public health system and beds but I watch with despair at how five beds officially remain empty in the heart of the Gaeltacht in Áras Mhic Dara. The one the Minister of State did not know is Áras Ronáin on the Aran Islands. Then there is Merlin Park. I took the trouble of checking the HIQA report for Merlin Park community nursing unit 5 and 6 - it was a glowing report, compliant on every level. By comparison - it touches on the Minister of State's area - the Aperee Living home closed. It owns eight or nine homes throughout the country, one of which is in County Galway. I looked at the HIQA report for that; it is absolutely damning. My concern is what happens when the health board takes over. What is the risk? What is the cost?

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