I am informed by the Southern Health Board that O'Connell Court, Windmill Road, Cork provides sheltered housing for older people and according to information available, the property is held on a long-term lease from Cork Corporation. The original cost of the refurbishment to convert it to a suitable housing facility for older people was mainly financed by grant aid from the Department of the Environment. I understand the premises is mortgaged to Cork Corporation under a capital grant scheme with the Department of the Environment. It is operated by a company limited by guarantee and has charitable status.
The Southern Health Board provides an annual grant of £40,000 under section 65 of the Health Act, 1953, towards the costs of providing community based services at the complex.
As the facility has been in operation since 1989, a number of the occupants are becoming increasingly more dependent. I understand that the Southern Health Board has been in discussion with the administration of O'Connell Court to ensure that suitable arrangements are made for those residents whose level of dependency requires them to be cared for under the provisions of nursing home legislation. The possibility of using a portion of O'Connell Court as a nursing home is being explored.
With regard to funding, it should be noted that financial assistance is not provided from my Department's funds for the setting up of a nursing home, whether by way of grants for new buildings or grants towards the reconstruction of existing buildings. If, however, a part of the facility were to be registered as a nursing home, residents of the nursing home would be eligible to apply for financial assistance with regard to the payment of fees to the home in accordance with the Nursing Home (Subvention) Regulations, and this would obviously benefit the home financially. In this connection, the discussions between the board and the administration of O'Connell Court referred to above will include the financial support of existing dependent residents within the parameters of the subvention regulations.
