Public (HSE)

St Augustine's Community Nursing Unit

Cathedral Road, Abbeyhalfquarter, Ballina, F26 XN53

Call 096 22662

Fair Deal weekly price

€1,607

HSE cost of care, from 1 September 2026

Registered beds

HIQA maximum occupancy

Registered until

18 June 2027

Current registration since 19 June 2024

Inspection score

63/ 100

Several problems found

Getting worse

Ranked 23 of 24 scored homes in Co. Mayo · 4 of 5 within 25 km

Leadership and management51

Quality and safety of care70

What went into the score

8 January 2026 · counts 50%6 not compliant · 5 of 13 compliant · 53
16 January 2025 · counts 30%2 not compliant · 6 of 10 compliant · 75
1 February 2024 · counts 20%4 not compliant · 7 of 13 compliant · 70

Fair Deal price is 25% above the Co. Mayo median of €1,284 a week.

How we calculate this score

Every regulation HIQA judged on an inspection earns points: Compliant 100, Substantially compliant 65, Not compliant 25.
Where the compliance plan rates the risk of a failing regulation, orange (moderate risk) takes off 15 more points and red (high risk) takes off 40. Yellow (low risk) takes off nothing.
An inspection's score is the average over the regulations it looked at.
A home's score combines its last 3 inspections: the newest counts for 50%, the one before for 30% and the one before that for 20%. With fewer inspections the weights are scaled up to 100%.
The trend compares the newest inspection's score with the average of the earlier ones: 5 points or more higher is improving, 5 or more lower is declining, anything else is stable.
Homes are ranked by score within their county and among scored homes within 25 km. Homes with the same score share a rank.

Method v1. It uses only HIQA's published judgments, not our opinion, and is recalculated whenever a new report is published.

What the latest inspection found

St Augustine's Community Nursing Unit is a 33-bed centre in Ballina providing care for older people with physical frailty, dementia, mental health, and palliative needs. Residents generally felt happy and well cared for, describing the centre as "lovely" and staff as "very helpful." The environment is bright and residents can move freely, but some areas need refurbishment and cleaning standards vary. Activities were limited on the inspection day, with some residents feeling the day was long. Infection control practices and management oversight require improvement, including better staff supervision and notification of incidents.

Long-term care
Respite
Dementia care
Mental health
Palliative care

What inspectors liked

Residents reported feeling happy and well cared for, describing the centre as "lovely here" and staff as "very helpful".
Staff showed warm, kind, dignified, and respectful interactions with residents throughout the day.
The centre is bright, warm, well-ventilated, and residents can move freely and access gardens.
There are no restrictions on visiting; residents can meet visitors in a designated room or elsewhere as they wish.
Staff are knowledgeable about residents' needs and promote their rights and choices.

What needed to improve

Infection control practices were not consistently followed; some staff wore PPE incorrectly and did not change it appropriately, increasing infection risk.
Some communal areas, toilets, and bedrooms were not cleaned to an appropriate standard.
Storage rooms were overcrowded with equipment and clinical supplies, making access difficult and increasing cross-contamination risk.
Management oversight and auditing systems were weak, lacking action plans and proper supervision of staff performance.
Residents did not have access to a sheltered smoking area in the garden, and activities were limited or cancelled without alternatives.

What residents said

“it's lovely here”
“I like it here”
“it'll do for now”
“the day is long sometimes”
“watch TV or listen to the radio”

Staffing: There were sufficient staff on duty with appropriate skill mix, including two nurses always on duty. Staff felt well supported and had access to regular training, though supervision and adherence to infection control practices need improvement.
Activities: Activities were scheduled but not consistently provided; on inspection day, only two residents participated in art therapy and a physiotherapy class was cancelled without alternative activities. Some residents felt the day was long and spent time watching TV or listening to the radio.
Food: Residents were offered a variety of meal options with alternatives available. Special dietary needs were known and catered for, but there was no access to a dietetic service. Assistance was provided at mealtimes as needed.
Dementia: The centre cares for some residents living with dementia, providing person-centred care and promoting independence and well-being.

Summarised by AI from the HIQA report of 8 January 2026. Check the report for the full picture.Source report (PDF)

Inspection history

HIQA judges each regulation as Compliant Substantially compliant Not compliantRisk: Low Moderate High

8 January 2026
Unannounced inspection · published May 2026
5 compliant2 mostly6 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentModerate risk · fix by 30 April 2026Not compliant
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 30 April 2026Not compliant
Notification of incidentsModerate risk · fix by 9 January 2026Not compliant
Complaints procedureModerate risk · fix by 31 March 2026Not compliant
Quality and safety of care
Health careLow risk · fix by 20 January 2026Mostly
ProtectionCompliant
Residents' rightsLow risk · fix by 30 April 2026Mostly
VisitsCompliant
PremisesModerate risk · fix by 30 April 2026Not compliant
Food and nutritionCompliant
Infection controlModerate risk · fix by 30 April 2026Not compliant
Fire precautionsCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
16 January 2025
Unannounced inspection · published Mar 2025
6 compliant2 mostly2 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Written policies and proceduresCompliant
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
Governance and managementCompliant
Notification of incidentsModerate risk · fix by 20 February 2025Not compliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
Health careLow risk · fix by 20 February 2025Mostly
Residents' rightsLow risk · fix by 28 February 2025Mostly
PremisesModerate risk · fix by 30 May 2025Not compliant
Infection controlCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
1 February 2024
Announced inspection · published Jun 2024
7 compliant2 mostly4 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Written policies and proceduresLow risk · fix by 31 May 2024Not compliant
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 31 December 2024Not compliant
Complaints procedureLow risk · fix by 30 April 2024Mostly
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
Health careLow risk · fix by 30 April 2024Not compliant
Residents' rightsLow risk · fix by 30 April 2024Mostly
VisitsCompliant
PremisesLow risk · fix by 31 December 2024Not compliant
Food and nutritionCompliant
Information for residentsCompliant
Infection controlCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
3 August 2023
Unannounced inspection · published Nov 2023
11 compliant6 mostly1 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Persons in chargeCompliant
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentLow risk · fix by 31 December 2023Mostly
Directory of residentsCompliant
Governance and managementLow risk · fix by 2 October 2023Mostly
Contract for the provision of servicesCompliant
Complaints procedureLow risk · fix by 2 October 2023Mostly
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
Health careCompliant
Managing behaviour that is challengingLow risk · fix by 30 November 2023Mostly
ProtectionCompliant
Residents' rightsLow risk · fix by 1 October 2024Mostly
VisitsCompliant
Personal possessionsCompliant
PremisesModerate risk · fix by 31 March 2024Not compliant
Food and nutritionLow risk · fix by 9 October 2023Mostly
Information for residentsCompliant
Infection controlCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)

Fair Deal price

This is the most the home can charge a week for residents on the Fair Deal scheme. Under Fair Deal you pay up to 80% of your income and 7.5% of the value of your assets a year, and the State pays the rest. Homes may charge extra for things like activities, hairdressing or newspapers, so ask about these when you call.

List	Published	Weekly price
HSE public homes	1 September 2026	€1,607

Registration conditions

Read the conditions HIQA attached to this registration

Condition 1: Subject to any prohibitions or restrictions contained in any other condition(s), the designated centre shall be operated at all times in accordance with the Statement of Purpose within the footprint of the designated centre on the floor plan received on 13 October 2025. The registered provider shall only provide for the specific care and support needs, and services, within the facilities as set out the Statement of Purpose, as agreed with the Chief Inspector at the time of registration. Any changes to the specific care and support needs and services provided must be agreed in advance with the Chief Inspector. Condition 2: Only persons aged 18 years or older shall be accommodated at the designated centre at any time. Condition 3: The maximum number of persons that may be accommodated at the designated centre is: 31

Other homes nearby

Worth phoning too if this home has no bed available.

Sonas Nursing Home Moyridge
Private
Ballina, Co. Mayo· 580 m away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,285 / week
Inspection score
82
Beds
52 beds
Phone
096 218 86
Sonas Nursing Home Riverview
Private
Ballina, Co. Mayo· 890 m away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,284 / week
Inspection score
63
Beds
59 beds
Phone
096 92 000
Sonas Nursing Home Ard Na Greine
Private
Enniscrone, Co. Sligo· 12 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,297 / week
Inspection score
92
Beds
57 beds
Phone
096 37811
Blackrocks Nursing Home
Private
Foxford, Co. Mayo· 14 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,254 / week
Inspection score
73
Beds
48 beds
Phone
094 925 7555
AbbeyBreaffy Nursing Home
Private
Castlebar, Co. Mayo· 27 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,260 / week
Inspection score
88
Beds
55 beds
Phone
094 902 5029
Bailey's Nursing Home
Private
Tobercurry, Co. Sligo· 28 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,288 / week
Inspection score
57
Beds
43 beds
Phone
071 918 5471

Inspection score

63/ 100

Several problems found

Getting worse

Ranked 23 of 24 scored homes in Co. Mayo · 4 of 5 within 25 km

Leadership and management51

Quality and safety of care70

What went into the score

8 January 2026 · counts 50%6 not compliant · 5 of 13 compliant · 53
16 January 2025 · counts 30%2 not compliant · 6 of 10 compliant · 75
1 February 2024 · counts 20%4 not compliant · 7 of 13 compliant · 70

Fair Deal price is 25% above the Co. Mayo median of €1,284 a week.

How we calculate this score

Every regulation HIQA judged on an inspection earns points: Compliant 100, Substantially compliant 65, Not compliant 25.
Where the compliance plan rates the risk of a failing regulation, orange (moderate risk) takes off 15 more points and red (high risk) takes off 40. Yellow (low risk) takes off nothing.
An inspection's score is the average over the regulations it looked at.
A home's score combines its last 3 inspections: the newest counts for 50%, the one before for 30% and the one before that for 20%. With fewer inspections the weights are scaled up to 100%.
The trend compares the newest inspection's score with the average of the earlier ones: 5 points or more higher is improving, 5 or more lower is declining, anything else is stable.
Homes are ranked by score within their county and among scored homes within 25 km. Homes with the same score share a rank.

Method v1. It uses only HIQA's published judgments, not our opinion, and is recalculated whenever a new report is published.

What the latest inspection found

Long-term care
Respite
Dementia care
Mental health
Palliative care

What inspectors liked

Residents reported feeling happy and well cared for, describing the centre as "lovely here" and staff as "very helpful".
Staff showed warm, kind, dignified, and respectful interactions with residents throughout the day.
The centre is bright, warm, well-ventilated, and residents can move freely and access gardens.
There are no restrictions on visiting; residents can meet visitors in a designated room or elsewhere as they wish.
Staff are knowledgeable about residents' needs and promote their rights and choices.

What needed to improve

Infection control practices were not consistently followed; some staff wore PPE incorrectly and did not change it appropriately, increasing infection risk.
Some communal areas, toilets, and bedrooms were not cleaned to an appropriate standard.
Storage rooms were overcrowded with equipment and clinical supplies, making access difficult and increasing cross-contamination risk.
Management oversight and auditing systems were weak, lacking action plans and proper supervision of staff performance.
Residents did not have access to a sheltered smoking area in the garden, and activities were limited or cancelled without alternatives.

What residents said

“it's lovely here”
“I like it here”
“it'll do for now”
“the day is long sometimes”
“watch TV or listen to the radio”

Staffing: There were sufficient staff on duty with appropriate skill mix, including two nurses always on duty. Staff felt well supported and had access to regular training, though supervision and adherence to infection control practices need improvement.
Activities: Activities were scheduled but not consistently provided; on inspection day, only two residents participated in art therapy and a physiotherapy class was cancelled without alternative activities. Some residents felt the day was long and spent time watching TV or listening to the radio.
Food: Residents were offered a variety of meal options with alternatives available. Special dietary needs were known and catered for, but there was no access to a dietetic service. Assistance was provided at mealtimes as needed.
Dementia: The centre cares for some residents living with dementia, providing person-centred care and promoting independence and well-being.

Summarised by AI from the HIQA report of 8 January 2026. Check the report for the full picture.Source report (PDF)

Inspection history

HIQA judges each regulation as Compliant Substantially compliant Not compliantRisk: Low Moderate High

8 January 2026
Unannounced inspection · published May 2026
5 compliant2 mostly6 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentModerate risk · fix by 30 April 2026Not compliant
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 30 April 2026Not compliant
Notification of incidentsModerate risk · fix by 9 January 2026Not compliant
Complaints procedureModerate risk · fix by 31 March 2026Not compliant
Quality and safety of care
Health careLow risk · fix by 20 January 2026Mostly
ProtectionCompliant
Residents' rightsLow risk · fix by 30 April 2026Mostly
VisitsCompliant
PremisesModerate risk · fix by 30 April 2026Not compliant
Food and nutritionCompliant
Infection controlModerate risk · fix by 30 April 2026Not compliant
Fire precautionsCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
16 January 2025
Unannounced inspection · published Mar 2025
6 compliant2 mostly2 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Written policies and proceduresCompliant
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
Governance and managementCompliant
Notification of incidentsModerate risk · fix by 20 February 2025Not compliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
Health careLow risk · fix by 20 February 2025Mostly
Residents' rightsLow risk · fix by 28 February 2025Mostly
PremisesModerate risk · fix by 30 May 2025Not compliant
Infection controlCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
1 February 2024
Announced inspection · published Jun 2024
7 compliant2 mostly4 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Written policies and proceduresLow risk · fix by 31 May 2024Not compliant
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 31 December 2024Not compliant
Complaints procedureLow risk · fix by 30 April 2024Mostly
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
Health careLow risk · fix by 30 April 2024Not compliant
Residents' rightsLow risk · fix by 30 April 2024Mostly
VisitsCompliant
PremisesLow risk · fix by 31 December 2024Not compliant
Food and nutritionCompliant
Information for residentsCompliant
Infection controlCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
3 August 2023
Unannounced inspection · published Nov 2023
11 compliant6 mostly1 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Persons in chargeCompliant
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentLow risk · fix by 31 December 2023Mostly
Directory of residentsCompliant
Governance and managementLow risk · fix by 2 October 2023Mostly
Contract for the provision of servicesCompliant
Complaints procedureLow risk · fix by 2 October 2023Mostly
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
Health careCompliant
Managing behaviour that is challengingLow risk · fix by 30 November 2023Mostly
ProtectionCompliant
Residents' rightsLow risk · fix by 1 October 2024Mostly
VisitsCompliant
Personal possessionsCompliant
PremisesModerate risk · fix by 31 March 2024Not compliant
Food and nutritionLow risk · fix by 9 October 2023Mostly
Information for residentsCompliant
Infection controlCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)

Fair Deal price

List	Published	Weekly price
HSE public homes	1 September 2026	€1,607

Registration conditions

Read the conditions HIQA attached to this registration

Other homes nearby

Worth phoning too if this home has no bed available.

Sonas Nursing Home Moyridge

Private

Ballina, Co. Mayo· 580 m away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,285 / week
Inspection score: 82
Beds: 52 beds
Phone: 096 218 86

Sonas Nursing Home Riverview

Private

Ballina, Co. Mayo· 890 m away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,284 / week
Inspection score: 63
Beds: 59 beds
Phone: 096 92 000

Sonas Nursing Home Ard Na Greine

Private

Enniscrone, Co. Sligo· 12 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,297 / week
Inspection score: 92
Beds: 57 beds
Phone: 096 37811

Blackrocks Nursing Home

Private

Foxford, Co. Mayo· 14 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,254 / week
Inspection score: 73
Beds: 48 beds
Phone: 094 925 7555

AbbeyBreaffy Nursing Home

Private

Castlebar, Co. Mayo· 27 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,260 / week
Inspection score: 88
Beds: 55 beds
Phone: 094 902 5029

Bailey's Nursing Home

Private

Tobercurry, Co. Sligo· 28 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,288 / week
Inspection score: 57
Beds: 43 beds
Phone: 071 918 5471