Cuan Dara celebrates thirty years with enhanced inpatient facility

The Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD, today officially opened the new purpose-built Cuan Dara centre in Palmerstown, Dublin 20.

This modern medical inpatient centre replaces Cuan Dara’s previous 12-bed facility in Cherry Orchard Hospital and provides the ability to expand residential, recovery-focused care for people with complex addiction needs, including those with dual diagnosis, pregnancy-related needs or other medical conditions. Cuan Dara delivers consultant-led stabilisation and detoxification programmes, with a six-week structured pathway and an integrated therapeutic group programme led by the counselling team.

Speaking as she met clients and staff at the new Cuan Dara facility, Minister Murnane O’Connor said: “I am pleased to have secured additional funding in Budget 2026 to support the expansion of 18 additional residential treatment beds for medically complex cases in Cuan Dara.

“This expansion of addiction services to meet identified need is a key priority under the national drug strategy.

“I am confident that the expansion of services at Cuan Dara will significantly improve access to treatment for people with complex presentations and play a key role in supporting them on their individual journeys to recovery.”

Throughout the design process, clients who completed the programme were consulted and invited to make recommendations, many of which were incorporated into the development of the new unit.

Professor Eamon Keenan, National Clinical Lead, HSE Addiction Services, said: “Cuan Dara has provided specialist inpatient addiction services for 30 years, and this new unit strengthens our ability to respond to the growing complexity of service users’ needs. The increased capacity and enhanced clinical environment will support better pathways of care and help us deliver a national medical inpatient service that has long been needed. It’s just one of the ways the HSE is providing better access to health services, which for many people can be the first step on their road to recovery."

Dr Mike Scully, Clinical Director of Cuan Dara, said: “The move to a modern facility is very welcome for our patients and staff. It will also facilitate the ability to increase the service by 18 new treatment places, which will substantially improve patient access to our programmes. The new facility represents a very appropriate way to mark the 30 years of Cuan Dara's operation.”

Hannah Eames who completed the six week programme in 2024, said: “Going through detox isn’t easy, but the staff in Cuan Dara are very considerate and encouraging making the process as comfortable as it could be….they take care of you in Cuan Dara and wrap you in bubble wrap… I learned so much about myself and my addiction in Cuan Dara. It gave me the foundation and belief that I could live up to my potential.”

Speaking on behalf of the HSE Dublin and Midlands Region, manager for the Kildare and West Wicklow Integrated Healthcare Area Mary O’Kelly noted the achievement in seeing the Cuan Dara project through to completion “in what is a wonderful site for a most important service and one that will continue to grow and develop as a tier 4 specialist treatment service so congratulations to all involved.”

The Department of Health under Budget 2026 is providing additional resources to expand the unit’s capacity to 30 beds by the end of 2026. This increased capacity will support the establishment of a National Medical Inpatient Service for people with complex addiction presentations, addressing longstanding gaps in care for individuals with complex opioid, benzodiazepine and other substance-related dependencies.

The service provides pathways of care both into and out of the treatment programme in line with National Drug Rehabilitation Framework and works closely with community and hospital-based services to deliver integrated pathways and client centred care as per the current National Drug strategy and Sláintecare.