Plan to turn hotel into respite centre for elderly people

PLANS to convert a hotel, which has been lying idle for over four years at a cost to the taxpayer of over €4 million, into a care centre took a major step forward yesterday.

Management of the Westgate Foundation, a group caring for senior citizens in Ballincollig, confirmed their plans to create mid-Cork’s first respite centre on the Macroom site are at an advanced stage.

The hotel was examined last week by the Health Service Executive Southern Region. They are now drawing up a cost analysis on the project for submission to the Government. It could cost up to e1m to refurbish the centre and up to €2m to run it annually.

Westgate director Noel Byrne said if the project gets the go-ahead in the coming weeks, the centre could be up-and-running by the end of the year.

“There is a crying need for a regional respite centre. There is a huge waiting list, especially in mid-Cork. We are on the first rung of the ladder - it’s a long, long ladder,” he said.