Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy knows, the HSE community healthcare west is committed to the new 40-bed community nursing bed in Clifden. The new CNU build will amalgamate the residential services currently in Clifden hospital and in St. Anne's. The new build will allow long-term care currently provided in St. Anne's and convalescent step-down care currently provided in Clifden hospital on the one site. The project is currently going through the planning process. Later on today, I am travelling to Roscommon to turn the sod on another CNU we are developing at the former Sacred Heart Hospital. It is really important for these CNUs that we have the whole continuum of care. We have the long-term beds, the short-stay beds, the respite, the convalescence, palliative supports and dementia supports. That is the complete focus on this. I am getting fortnightly updates from them regarding the planning. I want this to start sooner rather than later, especially on my watch while I am in this role, because that area of the country deserves a community nursing unit as much as anywhere else, whether it is Ballyshannon, Roscommon or Waterford.

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