Minister Foley officially opens two new care facilities in the Mid-West
- Published on: 13 November 2025
- Last updated on: 13 November 2025
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, will today open two new residential care centres in the Mid-West.
The day will begin in Ennis in Co. Clare, where the Minister will attend the official opening of the Enable Ireland Hazeldene Respite House, a dedicated centre for children’s respite.
The new refurbished facility, which is HIQA-registered, is designed to support autistic children and children with Intellectual Disabilities in the Mid-West region. The Hazeldene service occupies one building comprising a 3 bedroomed main section with an attached self-contained 1 bedroomed apartment suitable for emergency and crisis placements. Minister Foley also confirmed a doubling of HSE funding for respite nights in Hazeldene, increasing from 700 to 1400 nights.
The children residing in the house will have access to 2 secure garden areas with outdoor play equipment. This dual-capacity model addresses a critical regional need, with over 60 children currently on the waiting list for residential respite.
Later, Minister Foley will attend the official opening of Resilience Healthcare’s new residential service, Sunville House, in Limerick. The newly established residential care facility designed to support adults with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, and physical and sensory disabilities.
The supports provided at Sunville House are delivered within a safe, homely environment, which is specifically designed to promote wellness and a high quality of care.
Services are tailored to the individual needs and requirements of each resident, facilitated through a person-centred approach. Sunville House is committed to fostering independence, comfort, and relaxation for all service users.
Speaking ahead of the official openings of both facilities, Minister Foley said:
“I am delighted to be here today to open these fantastic and much-needed facilities which are funded from the disability services budget.
Residential respite care is a vital service for children and families and Hazeldene in Clare will provide much needed services to a number of children and their families. Similarly, Sunville House in Limerick will provide residential care for people with disabilities in a safe, homely environment.
Enable Ireland and Resilience Healthcare have an excellent record in delivering a range of quality services to people with disabilities and I want to commend them, their staff and the HSE for their work in this regard.”
ENDS
Note to Editors:
Sunville House
Sunville House can provide full-time support to a maximum of four service users at any one time and can accommodate both male and female residents. The residential care services are available to individuals aged eighteen years and over, ensuring that adults within the specified criteria receive the highest standard of care and support. Located close to Hospital in County Limerick and approximately a 30-minute drive from Limerick city, Sunville House is situated in a tranquil, quiet location.
About Resilience Ireland
Resilience Healthcare Limited is a private healthcare company, providing advanced community care and social care services for children and adults with Autism and/or Intellectual Disabilities, Prader Willi Syndrome and people with physical disabilities.
Services provided include:
- Support for children and adults across residential services, which comprise of full time and shared care services,
- A contract with the HSE to deliver day services in line with New Directions.
- After school services and outreach for children
- Developing supported living services for young adults,
- Home nursing and community services for children and adults with complex medical needs through Advanced Community Care Division.
Resilience Healthcare provides services in both Disability and Primary Care in all 9 Community Healthcare Areas and is the Registered Provider for approximately 26 disability residential centres across Ireland.
About Hazeldene Respite House
The house replaces a service which operated in rented accommodation (Eden Lodge) since 2010. As of July 2024, the house was no longer available due to a landlord decision to take up residency in the house. To secure and develop the service Enable Ireland, with HSE support, purchased Hazeldene and undertook significant renovations to enhance and improve the service. In the intervening period, services were maintained in a rented house in Kinvara, Co. Galway.
HIQA registered Hazeldene as a designated centre for children’s respite at the beginning of June 2025.
About Enable Ireland
Enable Ireland is a Section 39 organisation that provides disability services to over 13,000 children and adults with disabilities and their families from over 40 locations in 14 counties.
Hazeldene Children’s Residential Respite Service, operated by Enable Ireland, is a newly refurbished, HIQA-registered facility located just outside Ennis, Co. Clare. The house is designed to support autistic children and children with Intellectual Disabilities in the Mid-West region.