Efforts to secure an alternative venue to the Daycare centre previously active at St Patrick's Community Hospital in Leitrim are at an advanced stage.
The update comes from Sligo/Leitrim Independent TD Marian Harkin who described the provision of a new centre as vital to older people in the Carrick on Shannon area.
Day centres provide a range of social and rehabilitative services for older people such as hot meals, group activities, exercise and health talks.
The Day Centre at St Patrick's Community Hospital shut over the course of the Covid Pandemic, with refurbishment works still underway in Carrick on Shannon.
According to Deputy Harkin, it's hoped a new site for the centre will be identified and opened early next year with the HSE confirming transport services will be provided to the new location for service users.
Speaking to Shannonisde FM, the independent TD says she's highlighted the problem repeatedly with senior Ministers:
''Last week with Minister Mary Butler, I told her about the crazy response I got from the HSE only two weeks previously, which suggested that clients from the Carrick-on-Shannon area could attend other day care services in places like Ballinaglera, which was 54 kilometers away, Drumkeerin which was 29 kilometeres Carrigallen 36. And I just said like, whoever sent that response knows nothing about Leitrim.''
