Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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1. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware that a nursing home (details supplied) is facing closure; if he will instruct the HSE to take over operation of the home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25784/24]

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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There has been a great deal of uncertainty with regard to the future of Lucan Lodge Nursing Home in the past couple of months. Hopefully, the Minister of State can shine a light on the future of the nursing home because the relatives, the staff and everybody involved want to know what is its future of going forward.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I also acknowledge and thank him for his constant advocacy on behalf of the residents, families and staff of Lucan Lodge Nursing Home in the past few weeks. I am deeply concerned to learn that HIQA had to cancel the registration of Lucan Lodge Nursing Home. Following concerns for the care and welfare of residents, the chief inspector of HIQA has taken action to cancel its registration as a care provider. That happened on 17 May. The HSE is liaising with Lucan Lodge. HIQA and the HSE have taken interim charge of the nursing home since Friday, 17 May. The HSE will act as the interim registered provider to support residents and their families during this time.

As the Deputy knows, the HSE will always support families in a situation where a private nursing home is no longer able or willing to provide care under the nursing homes support scheme, or fair deal, to a loved one. HSE staff have completed an initial assessment process regarding the clinical care of residents. HIQA inspections at Lucan Lodge in the last while uncovered significant issues, including that the registered provider did not ensure that a safe and appropriate premises was provided in line with its conditions of registration, and did not ensure that the centre was appropriately resourced to ensure appropriate care delivery in line with residents’ assessed needs.

When the HSE took over, there were 71 residents in place. The current situation is that 15 residents have moved voluntarily and four more are moving this week. Unfortunately, two people who were at the end of life have passed away. We offer our sympathies to their families. As of this morning, there were 50 residents in the nursing home.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I thank the Minister of State. Those who work in the home and the residents and their relatives are very concerned about its future. There has been ongoing awareness and protests with a view to keeping the facility open. I have a number of questions. Will the HSE consider taking over the facility on a full-time basis? If not, would other providers be interested in taking it over? The fact the previous provider has gone into liquidation raises all sorts of difficulties with regard to the future of the facility. I thought the ongoing safety concerns raised by HIQA had been resolved. The Minister of State might elaborate on the ongoing concerns arising from the HIQA report.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The designated centre is a residential care setting operated by Passage Healthcare International (Ireland) Limited. Passage Healthcare has been in examinership but my understanding is that the receiver has removed the protection of examinership and that a liquidator will be appointed. As the Deputy knows, Passage Healthcare also operated Sally Park Nursing Home in Firhouse. Sally Park was deregistered in February 2024 due to non-compliance with regulations in a number of areas, particularly in the context of several aspects of fire safety.

This is an evolving situation. I have asked the HSE to explore all options with regard to the facility. The loss of 70 long-term residential care beds from an area is significant. My understanding is that there is some interest from private operators. However, I am not at liberty to say much more at the moment.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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That is relatively good news. If there is a scenario where none of the care providers is in a position to take over, it would be a disaster if facility had to close because it would mean the 50 residents would have to seek other accommodation. There is also the situation of the staff. People are very happy there but they are very worried about the long-term future of the nursing home. It is extremely important that, in the first instance, the HSE take over the facility. As the Minister of State suggested at the health committee yesterday, we have an imbalance in this country whereby 80% is owned by private equity rather than public equity. There is an imbalance that has to be addressed. Going forward, it would be in the interests of everybody that nursing homes are in public rather than private ownership.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I do not disagree with the Deputy regarding the imbalance that exists. The situation at Lucan Lodge was compounded because the owners of the property are resident in America. An Irish provider that was registered with HIQA was providing the service. Any takeover would be complicated, especially when we are talking about receivership and examinership. I met again with my officials yesterday for an update on the situation. We are keeping a close eye on it. As stated, 19 residents and families made the voluntary decision this week to move from the facility. However, the loss of that number of beds in an area is significant. I will keep this matter under review with the HSE and the Department, and I will keep the Deputy informed of any changes.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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For the attention of Members, I am moving on to other questions. We are finished with Priority Questions. I am starting but some Members are not here. I want to alert the House to that fact.