Irish Examiner view: Actions can have unexpected consequences

The fate of small nursing homes and Dursey Island's travails remind us good intentions may not lead where we want to go

Islanders and workers try to get the boat ashore after it arrived on the mainland in West Cork from Dursey Island late last week. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

We are all familiar with the phrase that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, but there have been two particularly regrettable and unfortunate examples this week.

While our national policy is to move away from large institutions in the nursing home sector precisely the opposite is happening. Small nursing homes are closing and ever-bigger establishments are opening, warns the Health Information and Quality Authority. Smaller homes often struggle financially or owners cannot find someone to take them over on retirement.