Kathleen Lynch, Ireland's Minister for Social Care, Primary Care and Mental Health has announced one of the most comprehensive programs of investment in public nursing home facilities in the history of Ireland.

The investment is planned for 90 centres across the country between now and 2021. This includes the replacement of 33 existing facilities and refurbishment and extension of 57 others. In addition this program of investment will deliver 215 additional beds in centres being built or refurbished in locations identified as having particular capacity issues.

The investment is made up of €148 million in the current HSE capital plan and a further €237 million capital made available under the government’s recently published multi-annual Capital Plan.

The program includes 10 facilities to a value of €150 million for which public private partnerships (PPP) or alternative funding arrangements will be considered.

Minister Kathleen Lynch said:

“This very significant investment reflects our determination to maintain the current public nursing home bed stock. As a result of this investment, it is intended that all public nursing homes will be compliant with the environmental aspects of HIQA standards by 2021. The 90 facilities between them have 4,723 beds. Having visited very many of these 90 facilities I know that residents and their families attest to the excellence of the care received but the physical environment needs improvement. It is reassuring for those living in these homes, their families and communities throughout the country that the future of these public nursing homes has now been secured as a result of this investment.”

We have recently reported that a consortium formed by BAM PPP PGGM and Iridium have reached financial close for the N25 New Ross Bypass PPP scheme. The project involves the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of approximately 13.6 km of new dual carriageway (N25 & N30 routes) and 1.2 km of new/upgraded single carriageway route and various structures.

Additionally, the Irish Minister for Education and Skills recently announced that the Inspired Spaces Consortium was selected as the preferred tenderer for the Schools Bundle 5 PPP Project which involves building four new post-primary schools, as well as a primary school and a new facility for the Kilkenny Carlow Education and Training Board site in Mortarstown, Co. Carlow.