New Dean Maxwell for Roscrea welcomed by RCDC Chairman

Roscrea is rejoicing since news the town will receive a new €23-million public nursing home that will carry the name Dean Maxwell into the future.

Chairman and founder of the Roscrea Community Development Council, John Lupton, welcomed the announcement and told the Tribune for many years it was feared Roscrea might lose a facility at the heart of the community.

RCDC lead the charge for many years to keep the issue of Roscrea's community nursing home at the front of the agenda for public representatives.

"On behalf of Roscrea Community Development Council I welcome the announce by Government of capital funding for the building of a new 50-bed Dean Maxwell Nursing Home in Roscrea - I thank all that have brought this announcement about," Mr Lupton said.

"In particular I thank Deputy Michael Lowry who has been in constant contact with RCDC over the past number of years with respect to the Dean Maxwell Home.

READ NEXT: 'The battle to save Roscrea’s Dean Maxwell Home has been won'

"He has arranged also for us to attend meetings with the HSE and arranged a meeting in the Dáil chaired by the Taoiseach.

"There is however a tinge of sadness and it is that our friend and colleague Steve Crofton, who was so passionately committed to the future of the Dean Maxwell Home is not with us to hear it, but we certainly feel his spirit with us now.

"The people of Roscrea, without exception, will rejoice at this announcement as it was feared over past years that the Dean Maxwell Home and the unique facilities which it offered the community over the past 50 years might come to an end.

READ NEXT: Dean Maxwell families welcome new 50-bed Roscrea Nursing Home

"It was feared that many Roscrea people as a result would have to live out their twilight years away from their place of belonging and from their community and friends.

"The Dean Maxwell Home is truly a 'home' for many people from Roscrea and District and for the community as a whole. To have lost it would have been to lose the heart of the community in Roscrea - but to retain and develop it is an affirmation of the very essence of community," Mr Lupton said.