Harris fails St Joseph’s Care Home

Responding to reports of the planned closure of Saint Joseph’s Dementia residential Care home in Shankill in Dublin, Labour Senator and member of the All Party Oireachtas Group on Dementia, Kevin Humphreys, said:

“I’m extremely concerned at today’s reports of the pending closure of St. Joseph’s in Shankill which has stopped taking admissions. It is clear to everyone just how vital this centre is for the residents and users of the service and their families.

“It also makes no sense that just months after the All Party Oireachtas Group on Dementia secured funding for extra supports for people living with dementia in Budget 2020, that the largest dementia-only care home in the country would be facing closure due to a lack of funding.

“This is a complete reversal to the commitment give by Minister Harris that the doors of St Joseph’s would remain open.”

“Staff at the centre also need clarity as to the future of St. Joseph’s in the lead up to Christmas. Swift action is needed to retain this vital service.

“The Minister and the National Treatment Purchase Fund know how much it costs to run this facility per patient yet it is refusing to properly fund it. There are already hundreds of people waiting to access the residential services. The closure of this facility would be a disaster.

“The Minister must now act.”