‘If plans were refused it would have been extremely difficult to sustain current job numbers’
NEWS that the expansion plan for Nazareth House has finally been given the go-ahead has been given an enthusiastic welcome across the local community.
Former county mayor Cllr John Paul O’Shea described it as “fantastic news”.
He said that in order to adhere to HIQA requirements in the existing building, the number of beds would have to have been virtually halved, with a corresponding drop in staff numbers.
“There is no doubt that the residents get the very best of care but the home is outdated and needs to be modernised in line with HIQA regulations,” said Cllr O’Shea.
“The ongoing delays to the planning process had caused genuine worries among the local community. It is no secret that had the plan been refused it would have been extremely difficult to sustain the number of existing jobs there,” he added.
He said there was a very real possibility that the home would have had to eventually close its doors for good had the expansion project been refused permission.
“It was vitally important that Nazareth House remained an integral part of life in Dromahane and the surrounding area.
“This really is fantastic news and hopefully it won’t be long before we see workers on site. The important thing now is that this project is completed with the minimum amount of disruption to staff and residents”.
Mallow-based Labour TD Sean Sherlock also welcomed the fact that the appeal had been withdrawn.
“This will allow much needed investment to take place at Nazareth House to ensure there is a solid future for this much-loved facility,” he said.
Hannah Sexton of the Friends of Nazareth House summed up the overwhelming sense of delight at the news that the objection had been dropped.
“The project has been surrounded by uncertainty for the past few weeks and it is fantastic that it can now move forward as originally planned. This has generated huge excitement among staff and residents at the home as well as in the wider north Cork community,” said Hannah.
“I worked at Nazareth House for 12-years and members of my family were cared for there, so I know just how important this facility is to the North Cork area. As well as generating new jobs, this development will ensure Nazareth House will be able to serve the elderly people of the region for many years to come,” she added.