A Cork care facility claims it faces an \u201cexistential crisis\u201d over funding as it seeks to change its charitable status in an effort to stem operating losses.<\/p>\n
Lobbying disclosures from the St Luke\u2019s care home in Blackrock show it asked politicians to try to change the status of the home from an S39 not-for-profit organisation to an S38 body.<\/p>\n
The switch would typically see an increase in funding from the\u00a0[url=<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.echolive.ie\/corknews\/arid-41855982.html]HSE[\/url].<\/p>\n
The home said the change would help \u201cachieve pay parity\u201d with HSE colleagues and allow it to develop further dementia services at the care home.<\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il TD Seamus McGrath met with representatives following lobbying efforts by the home.<\/p>\n
Financial situation concerning<\/p>\n
He said the home\u2019s current financial situation was concerning and backed the transition to a more centrally-funded model that would facilitate across-the-board pay increases.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t looked under the bonnet in terms of their financial position, but in terms of what they presented to me, they presented it as a very serious issue for them, and they very much believe the staff deserve to have the pay increases,\u201d Mr McGrath said.<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThey very much said that they would be under pressure in terms of retention of staff and recruiting additional staff, unless they put in a position to give them those kind of parity pay increases.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
Financial filings for 2025 showed St Luke\u2019s Charity CLG, with an address at Castle Road, Mahon, ended the year with reserves of \u20ac4.4m and retained earnings of \u20ac24.3m.<\/p>\n
Lobbied for change<\/p>\n
Records show the home has lobbied for the change in charitable status since 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey provide vital services in the area. I think having a more structured public funding source would be welcome for them,\u201d said Mr McGrath.<\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt\u2019s nothing to do with privatising or anything like that, it\u2019s just about financial stability.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
Built in 1994, St Luke\u2019s cares for 128 residents and offers dementia care and physiotherapy services.<\/p>\n