Funding of €700,000 has been announced to bring four Mayo community nursing units in line with HIQA standards.
Some €200,000 has been allocated to the MacBride Community Nursing Unit, Westport, €100,000 for St Fionnan’s in Achill, €200,000 at St Augustine’s in Ballina, and €200,000 at the D’Alton Community Nursing Unit in Claremorris.
Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring welcomed the funding for the Westport and Achill units.
“They provide a wonderful service both in Achill and in Westport and any funding that is approved for them is warmly welcomed for the benefit of the residents of these units,” said Minister Ring.
Ballina Fine Gael Deputy Michelle Mulherin also welcomed the announcement.
“This is really welcome news which will allow St Augustine's to keep up with and ahead of the standards required by HIQA,” she said.
“I was very concerned that funding would be secured in time for the works to be carried out by the end of 2015, and have made the case for St Augustine's and the other community nursing units in Mayo, namely the MacBride Home, St Fionnan's, and the D'Alton Home on numerous occasions in the past nine months to the Minister for Health and the HSE.”
Deputy John O’Mahony said he hoped the funding announcement would allay fears which had been expressed locally about the future of the D’Alton Community Nursing Unit.
“Both Cllr Tom Connolly and myself have worked hard at securing this funding and I am delighted that this work can now commence at the D’Alton Community Nursing Unit.
“There has been a lot of scaremongering about its future in recent months and hopefully this announcement will help put the issue to bed once and for all,” he stated.
