RIP Laura Buckley Noonan
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07 Sept 2025
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07 Sept 2025
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The Residence Portlaoise is located in a multi-million euro development near Portlaoise town centre.
Elderly people continued to be admitted to The Residence nursing home in Portlaoise after it was told to stop by the health service watchdog HIQA.
That is according to the RTÉ Investigates team, which had an investigator working undercover in the home when the ban was in place at the Portlaoise facility run by the French-owned business Emeis Ireland.
The restriction was activated at the end of April 2025 by the Health Information and Quality (HIQA) after an inspection and report in February which was the latest in a series of negative findings at the home located off the Mountmellick Road near Portlaoise Train Station.
While HIQA says that there was a ban, it has yet to confirm or deny if a breach of regulations occurred. However, the Leinster Express / Laois Live has learned that nursing homes are required to notify HIQA of transfers or admissions of patients. Emeis Ireland has also yet to comment the allegation.
HIQA confirmed to the Leinster Express / Laios Live that it did not publicise the restriction when it came into force other than amending the centre’s registration details, which it says can be downloaded on its website.
The restriction states that: "No new residents may be admitted to the designated centre until the registered provider has in place a governance and management structure and personnel with the knowledge, competence and skills required to supervise the delivery of care to residents".
The action to stop admissions was initiated after the February inspection and came into effect in April. HIQA said the provider was advised in February, formal notification issued in March and came into effect on 22 April.
The restriction came into place in the same month as Ballard Lodge nursing home ceased operations in Portlaoise.
Emeis Ireland has apologised for the 'suffering and distress' caused in the Portlaoise home which opened in 2023 as part of a major expansion of services in Ireland.
HIQA is to review all the Emeis Ireland homes, including the Kilminchy Lodge nursing home off the Dublin Road in Portlaoise.
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