The HSE currently has a plan to use the new community nursing home in Nenagh as a step-down facility to tackle overcrowding from University Hospital Limerick, UHL. This initiative is contentious and controversial as it denies the long-awaited opportunity for the transfer of patients from St. Conlon's community nursing unit, which is deemed by HIQA as unfit for purpose. After consultation with staff and the chairman of the unions, and in a bid to resolve the stand-off, a proposal was put to HSE management to consider an alternative plan. Under this proposal, the upper floor of the new unit would facilitate the transfer and cater for the 23 patients and staff at the existing St. Conlon's home. The other 25 beds on the ground floor would be repurposed on a temporary basis as step-down beds to ease congestion at UHL. The unions and their members have put the HSE on notice that they will not co-operate with the transfer of patients from UHL unless the new unit has an interim dual purpose role. The HSE is resisting this proposal. I request political intervention by the Taoiseach to resolve the impasse.

This is a very serious issue and I thank Deputy Lowry for raising it. I will continue to engage with the Minister for Health on this. There are two issues. There is obviously a very serious and acute issue at University Hospital Limerick, on which everyone in this House and most particularly Deputies from the mid-west want to see progress. We all know that. There are also the very strong views of the people of Nenagh on the community nursing unit. The proposals put forward are very much on an interim basis as a step-down, sub-acute and rehabilitation facility. I reiterate that it is on an interim basis. I am aware of the strength of feeling in Nenagh on this issue. Deputy Kelly has also raised this previously. I will ask for engagement by the Minister for Health with Deputy Lowry on this matter.