HSE faces criticism over plans to relocate west Wicklow day care service

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Concerns over the future of elderly care in west Wicklow have intensified following the HSE’s confirmation that Blessington Day Care services will relocate from the Coimín Centre to the Blessington Primary Care Centre from July 2026.

The decision, which the HSE describes as an “interim solution”, has prompted strong reactions from local representatives.

The HSE says the move became unavoidable after Blessington Parish notified the organisation in January that the Coimín Centre would only be available for two days per week under a new licence agreement.

The HSE stated it was “not willing to reduce the day service provision by 50pc” and therefore sought alternative accommodation to maintain continuity of care. After reviewing options, space within the Primary Care Centre, leased under a long term agreement, was identified as the only viable interim location.

According to the HSE, the relocation will allow the service to increase from four to five days per week, with no reduction in the number of older people attending daily.

The organisation also confirmed that all required health and safety processes, including fire safety assessments and risk reviews, are underway and will be completed before the service begins operating at the new site. It emphasised that kitchen and bathroom facilities at the Primary Care Centre are “fully accessible.”

However, these assurances have not eased local concerns. Independent councillor Gerry O’Neill, who recently chaired a public meeting on the issue, has strongly criticised the relocation, describing the proposed space in the Primary Care Centre as “completely unsuitable” for older people, particularly those with mobility challenges.

Cllr O’Neill said he had been contacted by many older people and their relatives who fear the new location will not meet their needs.

He claimed the room allocated for the service is on the second floor, lacks on‑site bathrooms and kitchen facilities, and is served by only one small lift, raising questions about emergency evacuation procedures.

He also said that meals would be provided in the form of “meals on wheels,” rather than being prepared on site, which he believes represents a reduction in service quality. Cllr O’Neill has requested copies of the fire certificate and risk assessment for the venue.

The dispute comes after several years of growing tension around the Coimín Centre.

For decades, the day care service operated from St Joseph’s Hall before moving in 2015 to the new Coimín Centre, a parish‑owned facility part‑funded by a €200,000 National Lottery grant.

The relationship between the HSE, the day care service, and the Coimín Centre management was cooperative.

The seeds of the current conflict were sown in May 2023, when the Department of Health approved funding to expand the service from two days per week to four.

While welcomed by families, the expansion required exclusive use of the Coimín Centre from Monday to Thursday, displacing youth groups, clubs, and other community organisations that had long relied on the building.

The Coimín Centre board argued that the arrangement placed an unsustainable burden on the facility and limited its ability to serve the wider community.

In February of this year, reports emerged that the board had formally offered to reduce the HSE’s access back to two days per week.

The proposal triggered an immediate and polarised response from local elected representatives. Cllr O’Neill condemned the move as a “disgraceful” threat to vulnerable older residents, arguing that once a service is cut, it is rarely restored. He has repeatedly called for the HSE to leave the Coimín Centre entirely in favour of a permanent, state‑owned site.

Not all councillors share this view. In March, during Wicklow County Council’s monthly meeting, independent councillor Jason Mulhall criticised what he described as “misinformation” and a “false narrative” surrounding the service.

He clashed with Cllr O’ Neill and argued that the situation was an administrative challenge rather than an imminent collapse and warned that “scaremongering” was causing unnecessary distress to older residents and their carers.

Despite the political tensions, there is also emerging agreement on the need for a long‑term solution.

Both Cllr O’Neill and Cllr Mulhall have supported calls for the redevelopment of the old health centre on Kilbride Road. However, progress has stalled due to funding complications and the collapse of the Blessington Greenway project, which had been expected to drive redevelopment of the site.

The council has noted that it has no direct role in the provision of day care services in the area but following a recent district meeting, officials have agreed to inform the HSE that local councillors are united in wanting the service to continue and be maintained properly.

The HSE says it is actively progressing plans for a permanent, purpose-built day care centre in Blessington in conjunction with HSE Estates. The executive says a number of potential options have been identified and will be advanced to ensure future accommodation is sustainable, fit for purpose and aligned with national policy for older persons’ services.