Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as a bheith anseo linn inniu. I seek an update of the status of the timeline of the delivery of a day care centre for the elderly in Macroom in the constituency of Cork North-West. I am sure the Minister of State will agree with and acknowledge the importance of day care centres. We see them all over the country. Macroom has a growing town centre with a big population and a massive hinterland from all over the constituency, from Aghabullogue to Coolea. We are incredibly lacking a day care centre right now, somewhere for our elderly residents to go to socialise, relieve rural isolation and keep in touch with friends and neighbours. This is something that has been mentioned for quite some time.

When I was on Cork County Council, I was a member of the HSE South forum. In both February 2022 and June 2023, I was told that a design team had been appointed for this, an agreement on the design proposal had been agreed and completed, the procurement had been finalised and it was waiting sign-off to tender.

To the best of my knowledge, it still awaits full funding but I await the Minister of State's update on that. Those are updates I got through the HSE south forum in February 2022 and June 2023. It does seem as though we have made no progress in those three years.

The Minister of State will be aware of the benefits day care centres can provide. This is a problem not only in Ireland but across Europe and the world when it comes to ageing population and the way we keep elderly people at home. I believe community healthcare and community care is the way to do that. It puts less pressure on nursing homes and, ultimately, on the service user. It is vital we make these services available. Not only does it provide an opportunity for older people to keep up their social skills and avoid rural isolation, but it also provides a break for family carers who are looking after elderly people. For elderly people living on their own, it keeps them living independently for longer. It can also be linked in with therapeutic healthcare and access to healthcare through day care centres. The centres also work in tandem with services, such as meals on wheels which provides a fantastic service all over the country, particularly in rural areas. In both Macroom and Millstreet, two of the bigger towns in my area, meals on wheels provides fantastic services, and that is to be commended. Macroom is also very lucky to have a very active senior citizens group, two nursing homes and a community hospital. I commend the refurbishment work that has been done in Macroom Community Hospital, which is truly a fantastic facility. We were promised a day care centre as part of that facility. That has yet to be delivered. Progress seems to be very much static or stagnant. Looking at the population of Macroom and its hinterland, and the issues with an ageing population, these are the kinds of solutions we need to put in place and prioritise.

I thank Senator Lynch for raising this important issue. It is a key priority for the Government to increase access to services that help older people to remain independent and live in their own homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible. Alongside home support, meals on wheels and similar services, day centres are an essential support for older people, particularly in rural communities. They provide invaluable assistance, minor treatments, advice and social interaction for older people who may, for any number of reasons, be experiencing isolation and loneliness.

Day centres may be HSE-run services, HSE-funded voluntary services or privately operated and funded services. The HSE reports that, as of quarter 2 of 2025, there were 313 HSE and HSE-funded day centres operating across the country, providing community-based support to approximately 15,600 older people. An additional €500,000 has been provided in budget 2026 to address cost pressures and enhance day care services.

The HSE has advised that it intends to use part of the revamped health centre building at Macroom hospital to establish a day centre for older people from Macroom and the surrounding areas. Senator Lynch has alluded to this. At present, the project is awaiting the allocation of capital funding. Once the capital funding allocation is in place, the HSE will progress the planning for this project to the tender phase. On completion of the tender process, the HSE will be able to provide estimated timelines for the completion of this day centre for Macroom.

The development of the day centre in Macroom will add to and complement the network of social support services that is already available for older people in the Macroom area. This includes Macroom Senior Citizens, Sullane Haven, Aghinagh Active Retirement Group, Coachford Active Retirement Association, Ballincollig Men's Shed and Ballincollig Senior Citizens Club. I am not sure of the correct pronunciation of "Sullane" and "Aghinagh". It is important to get the pronunciation right.

I expect the new day centre in Macroom to be a very welcome addition to the range of health services in the area and I look forward to its completion. I have followed up with the HSE on the particular matter. We will continue to engage with the HSE to get the day care centre in Macroom, which will be part of the revamped health centre at Macroom hospital, progressed as quickly as possible for people in Macroom and surrounding areas.

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I cannot but say I am disappointed. I have been raising this matter through the council since 2022. I got the same reply in 2023 as I got in 2022 and the reply today, in February 2026, seems to be the same as well. I do not know if the Minister of State can offer any guarantee on capital funding. Are we looking at the 2027 budget or the 2028 budget? This is an issue that comes up every now and again. I do not want to leave this Chamber and issue a press release saying this is coming. I would prefer to be able to tell people in my area not only that this is coming, but that I have a rough time for delivery, this is a Government priority and we will deliver it when we have the funding. That is what I would prefer to be able to say, having raised this issue today.

The Minister of State outlined all the wraparound services available in the town of Macroom. It is a massive area. There is a population of 6,000 in the town and its surrounds. There has also been a massive increase in the population under the county development plan in the last five years. It is big area extending from east of Cork city all the way to Millstreet and Killarney. There is a massive hinterland there. We need this service. While there are fantastic wraparound services – and I commend all those the Minister of State mentioned which provide an excellent service – we need to expedite this. Community healthcare has to be a priority. I know it is but we need to push it further.

I again thank Senator Lynch for raising this issue. The Government’s objective to support older people to live well with dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Providing the supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels, including dementia-specific supports, is a key factor in supporting people to age well in their own homes.

Day centres like this proposal for Macroom are a crucial part of social provision in our communities. They are an invaluable resource to help older people in our communities to maintain their health and independence.

I will personally follow up with the HSE on the day care centre for Macroom and revert to the Senator on the specific matters she raised. I think she will agree that we wish to see the additional day care centre service for people in Macroom operational to complement the other supports available in the local area. I will come back to the Senator on the specific proposal.