The chief executive of the HSE has said Killarney Community Nursing Unit will open in the next few weeks.
He was answering a question by Deputy Michael Cahill at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health.
The Health Service Executive’s (HSE) Bernard Gloster told the committee that the new Ballydribbeen facility will open in the first quarter of this year.
Long delays have dogged the 130-bed unit since construction began in 2022, having initially been slated for completion in late 2024.
A spokesperson for HSE South West told Radio Kerry News that it is actively working on opening the new unit by the end of March.
The Public Private Partnership (PPP) project was finally handed over to the HSE in December.
HIQA conducted a courtesy pre-registration visit on 20 January and the HSE is now implementing the resulting recommendations.
The executive plans to submit the final registration application in the coming days.
The spokesperson says once the building has been registered with HIQA, the opening date, and details of the phased arrival of residents, will be announced.
They added that a workforce plan is currently being coordinated to ensure the required complement and skill mix of staff will be in place for residents to move into their new home as soon as logistically possible.
