No decision made about future of Bethany House says HSE
By Deirdre O’reilly
Elderly residents of Bethany House can breathe a sigh of relief that their home is safe, for now. However, some members of Carlow Town Council are still concerned about the future of the home and its 28 residents.
Doubts regarding the future of Bethany House first emerged last Friday, when the residents and staff of the home located on Barrack Street in Carlow’s town centre are believed to have been told by a HSE representative that the unit is to close. A recent statement issued by the HSE said that ‘this is not the case,’ and that a “review of welfare homes within Carlow/Kilkenny, including Bethany House, is currently under consideration by the HSE and no definite decision has yet been made.”
Members of Carlow Town Council did what they could to protect the future of the home at their monthly meeting on Tuesday night, by approving the draft town centre development plan which stipulates that the home and the lands surrounding it remain zoned as ‘institutional’ and will not be rezoned for town centre development.
Labour Cllr Des Hurley told the Carlow First newspaper that he still has concerns for the future of the home, despite resolving the zoning issue and reasssurances communicated by the HSE to the county council’s HSE representative Labour Cllr Rody Kelly, that the home wasn’t closing.
“Of course we’re worried because the HSE hasn’t made a definitive public statement yet. And the question is, who believes the HSE anymore?” remarked Cllr Hurley.
“The HSE told me that no decision had been made in relation to Bethany House,” explained Cllr Kelly.
“When I asked Annmarie Lanigan, head of community care with the HSE if it was closing, she said no it wasn’t. But she did say that it was in need of upgrading and they were considering refurbishment,” he added.
Cllr Kelly said he wouldn’t accuse anyone of not telling the truth and that they should wait until the HSE issue a report of the review and ‘see what their intentions are then.’ He also urged that the families of the residents be consulted.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Ann Ahern however, described the HSE as being a ‘faceless organisation’ and stated that their response was ‘entirely unsatisfactory.’
“Some of the residents of the home have been living there for up to 30 years, and you don’t decide not to give these people information. It’s not right that they hear about things from the media and are not told themselves. Bethany House is not just a place, it is their home.”
The councillor suggested that it was ‘no coincidence’ that the town plan issue arose, and said she believed that the HSE was looking at the ‘value of the town centre site.’ Cllr Ahern added that she was aware that the HSE had been in talks about where they would facilitate the residents if they did close the home.
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