The new €20m Little Sisters of the Poor care facility for the elderly moved a step closer with the recent official ‘groundbreaking’ ceremony on the site at Ferrybank on the Waterford / Kilkenny border.
In a ceremony attended by Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism, Cllr Jack Walsh, Mayor of Waterford, and Cllr Tomás Breathnach, Chairman of Kilkenny County Council, the Little Sisters of the Poor were joined by many of their friends and supporters from the local community and further afield, including Regional Superior, Sr Joseph, to celebrate the first step in their relocation.
The current home of the Little Sisters of the Poor on Manor Hill in Waterford is proving costly to maintain and heat, and the charity hopes that a new, modern home will reduce the daily running costs through its sustainable design and provide a more pleasant home for the elderly of the region.
The new facility will consist of 22 residential apartments for single people or couples; 48 en-suite care rooms, and accommodation for the community of Little Sisters. It will also contain a number of lounges and dining rooms for the residents, as well as a medical suite, chapel, library, arts and crafts facilities, hairdressing and computer facilities.
“We are very excited about this new site in Ferrybank,” said Sr Roseline of the Little Sisters of the Poor. “We are already planning how we will use the extra space we have here, and hope to be able to invite the local community to make the best use of our facilities, including our new multi-purpose hall. This will also ensure that our residents feel a part of the community and do not become isolated.
The building work, which is expected to take 18 months, will employ around 140 people during the construction phase and will plough in excess of €12 million back into the local economy.
