Kieran O'Donnell
Limerick City · Fine Gael · Ireland
“The triangle of supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels services — including dementia-specific supports — plays a vital role in helping older people to age well in their own communities. Meals on wheels services provide much more than nutritious meals.”
“The organisation currently operates a day care service four days per week, supporting approximately 60 registered users, and a meals on wheels service with 104 registered users. The HSE has advised that increased funding has been committed to support the organisation.”
“I join the Leas-Chathaoirleach in welcoming the Kellehers to the Seanad, which is a beautiful building in its own right. I thank Senator Kelleher for raising this important matter. He has advocated for Westgate Foundation over a sustained period of time and that has to be acknowledged. I know the work it does is close to his heart.”
“I again thank the Senator for raising Westgate Foundation in Ballincollig and the work it does on behalf of the community, particularly older people. The Senator referred to housing on-site. It is very much an integrated model. I could see how committed the staff and the board, many of them voluntary, were.”
“The Government has significantly increased investment in meals on wheels services in recent years. Funding increased from €3.5 million in 2022 to €6.25 million in 2025, with a further €2 million allocated in budget 2026 to support service expansion and maintenance.”
“The shared objective of the HSE and Westgate Foundation is to ensure high-quality day care and meals on wheels services continue to be available to older people who rely on them, particularly in the greater Ballincollig area.”
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“The intention of this amendment is to provide that homeowners in specific circumstances will be able to rebuild in the general vicinity of their current dwelling, allowing them to remain in their current home during the reconstruction period. I know it could be seen as going against the fundamental principle of the scheme, that is, of rebuilding current homes, but I genuinely feel that this is an exception that is needed and worth making in the circumstances. This will provide meaningful help and greater assistance for the most vulnerable in moving on with the scheme. We have listened and continue to listen to the concerns raised.”
“These interventions will, I firmly believe, make the scheme fairer and allow it to operate more efficiently and effectively for all those who are in it. I understand the challenges for the families affected by defective concrete blocks. In particular, I am very much aware of certain vulnerable families. The circumstances of a small number of families have been highlighted to me over the past number of months. These are, without doubt, very difficult for the families concerned. The Government is committed to helping these families as much as possible. While not in the Bill, an amendment to allow the construction of adjacent dwellings in specific circumstances will be brought forward on Committee Stage.”
“In an area as complex as defective concrete blocks, it is perhaps inevitable that at times, any scheme will, despite the best of original intentions, not address all the concerns of each and every applicant. This is to be expected given the fact that each and every household affected by the scourge of defective concrete blocks has its own unique and personal story to tell. Unfortunately, legislation does not often lend itself to capture and respond to all of these personal stories. The best we can do is, through experience and engagement, react to and improve things as we progress. In the first instance, this is what the Bill is about. It is staging interventions made necessary by homeowners' experience under the enhanced scheme over the past number of years.”
“I understand this will benefit a large number of homeowners in terms of thousands of euro each and indeed up to a maximum amount of €42,000 in some cases. I know this is much-needed and I feel it will certainly help to ease the financial burden on homeowners during what I know have been deeply distressing times in their lives. I have witnessed it first-hand with constituents. I assure homeowners that we are committed to making this scheme work. No scheme is perfect but the changes we are proposing will have a real impact for homeowners, some of whom, without a doubt, find themselves in very difficult circumstances. We will continue to work with local authorities, the construction sector and the Housing Agency to deliver a scheme that can help homeowners to fix their homes and move on with their lives.”
“The changes proposed take note of the concerns brought to my Department by various stakeholders in the grant scheme. I want affected homeowners to have confidence in the scheme and to know they are being listened to and, more importantly, supported by Government. As outlined by my ministerial colleagues, the main purpose of the Bill is to provide details to the wider group of relevant owners who can avail of the most recent increases in the grant scheme cap and rates. This will ensure that those homeowners who have received a determination but who were experiencing increased construction costs during their own remediation works can apply to their designated local authority for an increase in the remediation option grant.”
“I thank all the Deputies for their valued contributions on Second Stage. The amendments in this Bill, as outlined earlier by the Minister once again clearly illustrate the Government's commitment to continuing to support homeowners in counties affected by defective concrete blocks as they work to remediate their homes and move on with their lives. I understand how difficult it is for people. Limerick is a county where people have dealt with pyrite and defective concrete blocks. Taking up the point that Deputy Ó Murchú made, counties can apply to be part of the defective concrete blocks scheme through their local authorities. It is something that we did in Limerick a while back. Changes were brought about to the original scheme under the 2022 Act that provide further benefits for homeowners.”
“The HSE continuously reviews its services in line with population health planning and Sláintecare principles to ensure adequate and appropriate residential care services are available for our older population. In a very practical way, as I stated, I have already put the wheels in motion in terms of meeting the HSE, and I hope to do this relatively quickly to see what is the specific situation in terms of recruiting staff to open the nine beds and have the full complement of 38 beds in Áras Mhic Dara community nursing home in Carraroe.”
“As I said earlier, HSE west and north west is committed to filling all vacant posts in Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit and is exploring all available options to fill these posts. These include the current recruitment campaign for staff nurses and multitask attendants. I assure Deputies Farrell and Connolly that all efforts are being made on a continuous basis to ensure staffing is in place to maximise the residential capacity in the facility. Once the full complement of staff has been recruited to Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit, the HSE will in a position to open the remaining nine beds. As I said, the HSE and I are committed to maximising all available services for older people and the Connemara region.”
“I again thank Deputies Farrell and Connolly for raising this important matter in respect of Aras Mhic Dara community nursing unit in Carraroe. As I said previously, I will meet the HSE on the particular issue of the nine beds, which is the principal issue raised this evening in the House. I take account of the wider issues in the region in terms of rural and community nursing homes and it is something else I will discuss. The particular issue of the nine beds in Áras Mhic Dara is critical. As I said, there are 38 beds registered in Áras Mhic Dara and 29 of these are open. They cannot have any more residents at present as the opening of these beds is dependent on safe staffing levels.”
“I have followed up with the Department and the HSE today and previously. I am arranging to meet the HSE myself directly with officials. I want to see precisely what is happening. We know recruitment is under way for nine very important and beneficial beds for older people in the area. The commitment I give tonight is that in a practical and proactive way, I and officials will meet the HSE to see exactly what is happening, and to see how we can expedite getting the staff in place for the nine beds to have the full complement open as quickly as possible. This is the proactive measure I am putting forward tonight.”
“It is currently planned that an additional 14 whole-time equivalents will be required to open the additional beds in Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit in Carraroe. To enable recruitment of approved and funded positions, the HSE has progressed recruitment campaigns for staff nurses and multitask attendants. Both of these campaigns have now closed and shortlisting for these positions has commenced. Interviews will soon be scheduled by the HSE and recruitment will commence in due course. The HSE envisages reopening beds in Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit once staff are recruited at the start of the new year. I assure the Deputies that I am committed to working alongside the HSE to address all concerns in respect of the residential care of older persons in Áras Mhic Dara now and over the coming years.”
“As the Deputies are aware, there are challenges in recruiting staff in community nursing units and community hospitals in more rural locations. Unfortunately, staff shortages can have an impact on bed capacity at times. The number of beds open at any time is dependent on safe staffing levels, and this is monitored on an ongoing basis in line with the recruitment of staff. To ensure the safety of residents and staff, bed capacity is configured around adequate staffing levels, and an appropriate staff skill mix must be in place. I assure the Deputies that HSE west and north west is committed to filling all vacant posts in Áras Mhic Dara, and in all community hospitals and CNUs in the region, and will continue to explore all available options to fill these posts.”
“I thank Deputies Farrell and Connolly for raising this important matter. Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit provides important and valued services for the people in Carraroe and surrounding areas. I understand the significant role the community nursing unit plays in the community and the depth of feeling associated with the facility. Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit is registered with HIQA to accommodate a maximum of 38 residents for long-term residential care, which both Deputies have mentioned. The HSE has advised that currently 29 beds are open and nine beds are vacant due to staffing challenges. Both Deputies have referenced this. Áras Mhic Dara community nursing unit cannot admit any more residents at present as the opening of additional beds is dependent on safe staffing levels.”
“Ultimately, the key point is that there are two areas here. Number one, the local authority itself has rental income coming in, which is ring-fenced in terms of maintenance for its housing stock. Furthermore, the Department gives additional funding in that regard as well. But we have to move. Everyone talks about future-proofing and coming up with a model that will work into the future. I think the Deputy would accept that we need to get to a space where we have a plan maintenance rolling model rather than a model on voids alone.”
“I have a couple of figures for the Deputy. A sum of €31 million is being given in 2025 towards voids and planned maintenance. It will be €40 million for next year, 2026. Furthermore, the intention is that local authorities will have these stock surveys done over the next four to five years.”
“It is towards a planned maintenance model rather than a model that is just reactive when properties become vacant. We want to move to planned maintenance. The local authorities are doing surveys of all their stock to get to that point and that is a key body of work the local authorities are returning to the Department.”
“I thank the Deputy. I can see his passion. The Minister and the Department want to move to a planned maintenance programme, away from legacy. We want to bring all those units and homes up to a state of repair. The focus from now on will be about a model for planned maintenance such that houses can be re-let promptly, but ongoing works are being done to homes in order that when they become vacant, they are then in a reasonably good state and only a modest amount of work has to be done to re-let them. The Deputy will accept that one of the key problems is the length of time it takes local authorities to turn around voids to re-let them. The model is moving and I think the Deputy and I are on the same page on that. I expect it is something he would support.”
“This funding should complement local authorities' own resources, and should not be viewed as a substitute for local authority funding or for the requirement for adequate budgeting for housing management and maintenance by local authority officials and elected members as part of their annual budgetary process. Data on delivery under the 2025 planned maintenance and voids programme, and local authority allocations for 2026, will be available early next year. It is my intention to introduce a new voids programme with a renewed focus on prompt turnaround and re-letting of vacant units by focusing only on those works necessary to ensure compliance with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019.”
“Some €31 million will be provided in 2025, supporting the refurbishment and re-letting of a minimum of 1,900 social homes, facilitating the quick turnaround of vacant homes and continuing the transition from a reactive voids approach to a planned maintenance approach. Funding will further increase in 2026 and, under a revised voids programme, will focus on the prompt turnaround of casual vacancies and reductions in the level of overall vacancy in the local authority housing stock, while also contributing to stock conditions surveys and supporting works arising from these surveys.”
“The management and maintenance of local authority social homes, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, implementing a planned maintenance programme and carrying out responsive repairs are matters for each individual local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities are also statutorily required to ensure all their tenanted homes comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. Notwithstanding these obligations, my Department provides annual funding under the planned maintenance and voids programme to support local authority management and maintenance programmes. Since 2014 to the end of 2024, over 25,600 vacant social homes were brought back into productive use through an investment of more than €361 million.”
“If the Deputy wishes to send us on the details regarding, Sylvia, the lady he referenced he can. As I said earlier, the Minister and the Department are fully aware of the pressures people are under, particularly in terms of the Deputy's question around HAP. A review is under way in that particular regard. We note the point the Deputy is raising in terms of cost rental as well and it is something we will consider.”
“It is good to see the Deputy back to his passionate best. The Department and the Minister are very aware of the pressures on existing tenancies and it is existing tenancies the Deputy is talking about. The particular issues around that are currently under active consideration by the Department and it is something we are actively looking at in terms of existing tenancies and affordability. I note the point. I do not know the particular circumstances regarding Sylvia. If the Deputy wants us to follow up with the local authority we will, if we can assist in any way. We recognise the point the Deputy has made.”
“I have recently approved a review of existing HAP rent limits to ensure there is sufficient support under the HAP scheme to assist eligible households in accessing accommodation in the private rental sector. My Department is currently finalising the parameters of this review. The Deputy Boyd Barrett might elaborate on the specific circumstances he was talking about.”
“Since 11 July 2022, each local authority has had statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit, or up to 50% in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. Additional flexibility was also given for local authorities to apply a couple HAP rate to single person households. Recognising that newer tenancies are at a higher cost than existing tenancies, the measure only applied to new tenancies. It is a matter for the local authority to determine if the application of discretion is warranted on a case-by-case basis and the level of discretion applied in each case. Local authorities are encouraged to focus the application of discretion on alleviating financial burden for HAP tenants wherever possible, particularly for those in difficult financial circumstances.”
“The HAP scheme continues to play a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of quarter 2, 2025, over 128,500 HAP tenancies had been set up since the scheme commenced, of which 51,736 households were actively in receipt of HAP support. Under HAP,a tenant sources their own accommodation in the private rental market. This accommodation should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned. Where a tenant’s circumstances change, including their household size, they should notify the relevant local authority. The local authority can then review the household circumstances, including in relation to differential rent charged and the relevant HAP rate to apply.”
“More specifically on the issue the Deputy has raised about turnkey developments, there is a process being initiated at the moment towards a call for proposals. Through the Department but particularly the local authorities, the State will define the location, the typology and tenure of housing needed as well as specifications and value parameters for any of the scheme proposals. The AHB proposals are aligned with our local authority housing delivery actions. This is about the AHBs getting more into direct build in that space. The other impact of that is that the issue, which has arisen with some people, of competing first-time buyers will be reduced. More particularly, we want to deliver 72,000 units over that period of time. Included in that is that we want the local authorities themselves to get into that self-build area more.”
“As the Deputy is probably aware, in terms of some of the larger AHBs, there is a body of work under way with the UCD Geary Institute and the Housing Alliance. They have allowed potential pathways in terms of the reclassification of some larger AHBs.”
“The Minister was in before the committee, but, more specifically, as the report has now been published, the Minister has established a special working sectoral group in this area. There were eight interlinked policy developments. The Deputy has referred to some of them. We want to get the AHBs to go more towards direct delivery to examine the reformed income model for the AHB social housing revolving fund, establishing an AHB sector restructuring sustainable fund and then capital funding to support more sustainability for larger AHBs. That is the area the Deputy is talking about - gearing, direct delivery and reclassification. The big issue here is that the Minister has done a body of work and wants to work with the sectoral group and, specifically, to look at the particular issue in terms of that gearing aspect.”
“Upon the conclusion of this intensive scoping and investigation phase, I will present regular policy development reports to the Government for consideration, outlining the feasibility, impacts and proposed implementation plan for the key structural recommendations. I am committed to advancing a sectoral reform programme that will enhance the positive impact of AHBs, address immediate sectoral challenges and support the transformation towards a more resilient, effective and efficient sector.”
“This report represents the most detailed examination of the AHB sector ever conducted by the State. While the vision sets out the reform of the sector over the next decade, officials in my Department have been continually progressing policies to strengthen the sector since I came into office. Work is already under way on several policy development reforms outlined within the Report of the Approved Housing Body Strategic Forum, as committed to in the national housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030. Furthermore, my Department will shortly establish a sectoral reform working group, involving key stakeholders, which will be tasked with progressing work on the more transformational policy development recommendations throughout the period of the national housing plan.”
“The Report of the Approved Housing Body Strategic Forum presents an ambitious and transformative vision for the AHB sector and sets out a detailed roadmap of policy development reforms to enable the realisation of that vision over the years ahead. The forum, which was established in December 2023, undertook a comprehensive review of the AHB sector and concluded its structured engagements and analysis at the end of 2024. These included a series of national workshops involving over 150 participants, broad stakeholder consultations and targeted research into not-for-profit housing association models in four peer European jurisdictions. The work also drew on the relevant recommendations of the Housing Commission and the priorities outlined in the programme for Government relevant to the AHB sector.”
“The changes to age-related and health-related credits are carefully calibrated so that insurers receive fair support from the fund. Third, they maintain fair and open competition in line with EU state aid rules. By aligning credits more closely with health status rather than age, we improve the efficiency of the scheme. I commend the Bill to the House.”
“An €8 million surplus in the fund will be used to reduce the level of stamp duty that would otherwise apply. Section 8 deals with the Short Title, commencement and construction of the Bill. This Bill ensures the continued fairness of our community-rated health insurance market. It strengthens the risk equalisation scheme and supports affordable premiums for older and sicker people, principles that are backed by the public. These amendments achieve our objectives in three ways. First, they support the sustainability of the private health insurance market by ensuring that credits and stamp duties reflect the real cost of claims. This keeps the risk equalisation fund balanced and avoids sudden shocks to premiums. Second, they prevent overcompensation to insurers.”
“Section 5 revises the age-related credits. These credits depend on age, sex and level of cover. They will increase for all advanced products and most non-advanced products to reflect higher number and cost of claims. Section 6 strengthens the high-cost claims pool credit, which helps insurers to cover very expensive claims. The share of costs covered will rise from 45% to 50% for claims over €50,000 in a 12-month period. Section 7 sets new stamp duty rates to fund these credits. From 1 April 2026, adult advanced plan stamp duty is going up by €48 to €517, child advanced plan stamp duty is going up by €16 to €172, adult non-advanced plan stamp duty is going up by €9 to €103, and child non-advanced stamp duty is going up by €3 to €34. These increases are calculated to keep the scheme Exchequer neutral.”
“The Health Insurance Authority carried out a survey this year that showed that 64% of those surveyed agreed that health insurance prices should not depend on an individual’s health condition and 72% agreed older people should not pay more for their health insurance. I will now briefly outline the sections of the Bill. Section 1 confirms that the principal Act is the Health Insurance Act 1994. Section 2 sets the 1 April 2026 as the date when the new credits from the risk equalisation fund will take effect. Section 3 updates the term of appointment for the chairperson of the Health Insurance Authority, bringing it in line with the code of practice for the governance of State bodies. Section 4 increases the hospital utilisation credit. From April 2026, overnight stays will rise from €163 to €165 and day cases will rise from €81 to €100.”
“Medical inflation simply means the cost of healthcare is rising every year. Hospitals charge more for procedures. New treatments and technologies are more expensive and wages and operating costs continue to increase. Even if the number of claims stays the same, the cost of those claims goes up. This is one of the main reasons risk equalisation credits and stamp duties need to increase. The annual changes help to keep the system fair and sustainable. If the Government does not adjust the stamp duty rates every year, the scheme could run out of money. This could mean even higher increases to stamp duty later on or the Government having to step in to fund the scheme directly. In terms of public support, there is strong public support for community rating in private health insurance.”
“Advanced contracts, on the other hand, offer a higher level of cover, including access to private hospitals and additional benefits. These plans cost more because they provide greater choice and flexibility for customers. There are four different rates of stamp duty depending on whether the policy is advanced or non-advanced and whether the customer is an adult or a child. The rates for non-advanced policies and children are lower, reflecting lower levels of claims. Stamp duty is a ring-fenced contribution to the risk equalisation fund and supports the credits to enable fairness and sustainability in the private health insurance market. Each year, credits and stamp duties are updated to reflect changes in claims and costs. Medical inflation and private hospital costs are driving claims higher.”
“The third is high-cost claims credits. These credits are for very expensive claims. If a claim goes above €50,000 in a year, part of that cost is covered by the risk equalisation fund. This protects insurers from the impact of extremely high claims and keeps premiums stable. The Bill makes changes to all three risk equalisation credits. The proportion of age-related credits will decrease slightly while health-related credits will increase by the same amount. Age is not always an indicator of bad health, so this change better aligns credits with actual health status. In terms of stamp duty rates, health insurance policies fall into two categories: advanced and non-advanced. Non-advanced contracts mainly cover treatment in public hospitals. They provide a more basic level of cover and are generally less expensive.”
“The Revenue Commissioners collect the stamp duty and transfer it to the risk equalisation fund, which is managed by the Health Insurance Authority. What are risk equalisation credits? There are three types of credits in the risk equalisation scheme. The first is age-related credits. These are payments to insurers to help cover the higher cost of insuring older customers. Older people generally use more healthcare services, so their claims cost more. Without these credits, insurers with more members who are older would face higher costs and would likely pass these on to their members in higher premiums. The second is hospital utilisation credits. These credits compensate insurers when their members use hospital services, either for overnight stays or day cases. They help spread the cost of hospital care across the market.”
“What is the risk equalisation scheme? The risk equalisation scheme is the key mechanism that keeps our health insurance market fair and sustainable. In a community-rated market, everyone pays the same price for the same policy, regardless of age or health. However, older and sicker people cost more to insure. Without the support of the risk equalisation scheme, insurers with more high-risk customers would face higher costs and premiums could rise. The risk equalisation scheme helps to resolve this. It works by redistributing funds between insurers. Insurers which cover older and sicker members receive credits to offset their higher costs. These credits are funded by stamp duty paid by the insurer for each health insurance policy it issues.”
“This means that anyone can buy a health insurance policy at any time, regardless of age, health status or medical history. Insurers cannot refuse cover because someone is older or has an illness. The second is lifetime cover. Once people have health insurance, they can keep it for life provided they pay their premiums. Insurers cannot cancel a policy because the person becomes sick or make claims. The third is minimum benefit. Every policy must include a basic level of cover set by law. This ensures that all customers receive a minimum standard of benefits. The final principle is community rating. Everyone pays the same price for the same plan, regardless of age or health. Insurers cannot charge more because someone is older or has a medical condition. These principles are the foundation of fairness in our health insurance system.”
“I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak on the Second Stage of the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2025, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. This is an annual, technical Bill with eight sections, focused on the specific area of health insurance. It also seeks to make a change to the term of appointment of the chairperson of the Health Insurance Authority. Today, 46% of the population, 2.54 million people, hold private health insurance. This represents an annual premium income of about €3.8 billion. Health insurance in Ireland is built on four key principles, and I will briefly outline each of them. The first is open enrolment.”
“It is good to see such strong cross-party representation from the constituency of Laois. On the particular matter Deputy Stanley raised, there are two aspects. They are currently reviewing the scope for additional works under phase 2. More particularly, both Deputies raised the point in respect of the existing building. I followed up with the HSE yesterday in advance of our debate. I got the update the Deputy is looking for, which is that it is currently looking at the use of the existing building. It is looking at it in the context of the refurbishment that was referred to, the 25 beds, which I will bring up with it, and the need for additional rehab long-stay and short-stay beds. The first step is that the HSE completes its work in that area. We then need to look at funding. I will be following up with the HSE on that particular matter.”
“I take on board the point the Deputy Stanley made about the 25 beds and the point Deputy Aird made about the increased capacity. We have taken account of the demand for additional rehab, long-stay and short-stay beds in the CNU. Developments in the old St. Vincent's building will be subject to capital and revenue funding approval. I take the points both Deputies made on board. I commit to working on what they have raised.”
“I thank Deputies Stanley and Aird for raising this matter. As I said earlier, the HSE is currently reviewing matters in respect of phase 2 and, more particularly, in respect of the use of the existing building in terms of pure logistics. The person in charge is in contact with HIQA. There was a request for a preliminary visit of the area in respect of the new building and specifically in respect of the existing building. As I said, the eight-bed dementia unit will continue to operate in the existing building. The HSE advises it is currently reviewing plans in respect of the future use of the existing building. More particularly on that, the HSE is currently in the initiation phase of project planning for utilisation of the existing building in terms of complete refurbishment.”
“More particularly, the HSE is currently in the initiation phase of project planning for utilisation of the existing building, necessitating complete refurbishment, taking account of the demands for additional rehab, long- and short-stay beds in the community nursing unit, CNU. Any development in the old St. Vincent's building will be subject to capital and revenue funding approval.”
“The HSE has advised that they are reviewing plans in respect of the future use of the existing facility. However, the main kitchen, canteen, laundry, and storerooms will continue to be accessed by staff. The church will also continue to be accessed by residents and staff as required, and daycare will remain operational in its current location. The scale and scope of future additional phasing of capital works at St. Vincent’s is currently being reviewed by the HSE, and once completed, the specific scope for phase 2 of the capital project will be determined. Specifically on the matter raised, as I said, the HSE is currently reviewing plans in respect of future use of the existing facility.”
“St. Vincent's Community Nursing Unit, Mountmellick, County Laois, is a public nursing home that currently provides 56 long-stay beds and one short-stay bed. Phase 1 of the current capital project for St. Vincent's consists of a new two-storey development containing 50 single en suite rooms adjacent and linked to the existing facility. The project is expected to be construction complete in the next few weeks. It is currently expected that St. Vincent’s will be operational in Q1 of 2026, following the transfer of residents, the reviewing of staff rosters and the application to vary the registration with HIQA. When complete, St. Vincent's will be registered for 58 beds consisting of 57 long-stay beds and one short-stay bed. The eight-bed dementia unit in the existing building will continue to operate.”
“There are a number of avenues of redress for an occupier of a rateable property who is dissatisfied with a determination of valuation by Tailte Éireann made under provisions of the Valuation Act 2001, as amended. As I said, I note the points the Senator raised, which will be brought to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Browne.”
“These do not provide a general exemption from rates for all early childhood care and education facilities. All Tailte Éireann assessments and valuations are carried out in accordance with provisions of the Valuation Act 2001, as amended, in keeping with accepted valuation methodologies, best practice internationally and valuation provisions and case law arising from independent valuation tribunals and the higher courts. They reflect, among other things, the use and occupation of a particular property. Under Irish law, there is distinct separation of functions between the valuation of rateable property and the setting and collection of commercial rates. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.”