Private

Sonas Nursing Home Tullow

Shillelagh Road, Tullow, R93 R159

Call 059 918 1500

Fair Deal weekly price

€1,277

HSE list #230, 4 September 2026

Registered beds

HIQA maximum occupancy

Registered until

5 April 2029

Current registration since 6 April 2026

Inspection score

82/ 100

Mostly compliant

Steady

Ranked 3 of 8 scored homes in Co. Carlow · 3 of 10 within 25 km

Leadership and management82

Quality and safety of care81

What went into the score

20 November 2025 · counts 50%1 not compliant · 6 of 10 compliant · 82
12 February 2025 · counts 30%2 not compliant · 12 of 18 compliant · 82
9 July 2024 · counts 20%2 not compliant · 1 high risk · 11 of 17 compliant · 81

Fair Deal price is about the same as the Co. Carlow median of €1,268 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

Sonas Nursing Home Tullow is a clean, bright, single-storey home with 50 residents on the day of inspection. Residents are well cared for by a dedicated staff team and enjoy a good quality of life. Meals are nutritious and well presented, with positive feedback from residents. However, some care plans are not fully up to date, and there are concerns about fire safety measures that need to be addressed.

Long-term care
Respite
Convalescence
Dementia care
Palliative care
Intellectual disability

What inspectors liked

Residents are well cared for by a dedicated and knowledgeable staff team.
The premises is bright, clean, and well maintained with ongoing refurbishment.
Residents have free access to secure outdoor patio areas with seating.
Meals are nutritious, well presented, and residents generally enjoy the food.
Staff training in fire safety and infection control is up to date and regular fire drills are conducted.

What needed to improve

Some care plans are not updated and contain outdated information from 2024.
Fire safety compartmentation is inadequate; many fire doors do not provide required protection.
The resident smoking area lacks appropriate fire safety equipment like extinguishers and call bells.
Floor plans lack critical fire safety information such as compartment lines, evacuation routes, and assembly points.
Storage practices increase fire risk, with flammable items stored near combustible materials.

What residents said

“the grub is great”
“food is delicious”
“the staff are very kind”
“the place is spotless clean”
“sometimes I'm waiting a while for staff to answer the call bell”

Staffing: The home employs registered nurses, care assistants, and other support staff. Staff are trained regularly in mandatory areas such as fire safety and infection control. Nursing cover and skill mix are appropriate to meet residents' needs.
Activities: Residents were observed participating in activities in communal areas and had opportunities for social engagement throughout the day.
Food: Meals are well presented and nutritious with choices such as braised beef steak and seafood and spinach pie. Residents generally enjoy the food, though one mentioned a desire for more variety.
Dementia: Has a dedicated dementia unit. The centre provides care for residents with dementia and has appropriate care plans and support in place.

Summarised by AI from the HIQA report of 20 November 2025. 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

20 November 2025
Unannounced inspection · published Mar 2026
6 compliant3 mostly1 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Statement of purposeCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
Governance and managementLow risk · fix by 20 February 2026Mostly
Notification of incidentsCompliant
Application for registration or renewal of registrationLow risk · fix by 20 February 2026Mostly
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planLow risk · fix by 30 April 2026Not compliant
PremisesCompliant
Infection controlCompliant
Fire precautionsLow risk · fix by 30 June 2026Mostly
Medicines and pharmaceutical servicesCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
12 February 2025
Unannounced inspection · published May 2025
12 compliant4 mostly2 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Persons in chargeCompliant
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentLow risk · fix by 14 April 2025Mostly
RecordsCompliant
Governance and managementLow risk · fix by 31 May 2025Mostly
Notification of incidentsModerate risk · fix by 1 April 2025Not compliant
Complaints procedureCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planLow risk · fix by 1 April 2025Mostly
Health careCompliant
Residents' rightsCompliant
VisitsCompliant
Personal possessionsCompliant
PremisesLow risk · fix by 30 June 2025Mostly
Food and nutritionCompliant
Information for residentsCompliant
Temporary absence or discharge of residentsCompliant
Infection controlModerate risk · fix by 14 April 2025Not compliant
Fire precautionsCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
9 July 2024
Unannounced inspection · published Sept 2024
11 compliant4 mostly2 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Written policies and proceduresCompliant
Persons in chargeCompliant
StaffingLow risk · fix by 12 August 2024Mostly
RecordsLow risk · fix by 30 September 2024Mostly
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 31 December 2024Not compliant
Contract for the provision of servicesCompliant
VolunteersCompliant
Notification of incidentsCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Health careCompliant
Managing behaviour that is challengingCompliant
ProtectionCompliant
Communication difficultiesCompliant
End of lifeCompliant
PremisesLow risk · fix by 31 December 2024Mostly
Risk managementCompliant
Infection controlLow risk · fix by 30 September 2024Mostly
Fire precautionsHigh risk · fix by 30 August 2024Not compliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
6 December 2023
Announced inspection · published Feb 2024
9 compliant4 mostly3 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Statement of purposeCompliant
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
Directory of residentsCompliant
RecordsLow risk · fix by 30 January 2024Mostly
InsuranceCompliant
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 29 February 2024Not compliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
Health careModerate risk · fix by 29 February 2024Not compliant
ProtectionCompliant
Residents' rightsCompliant
End of lifeLow risk · fix by 31 January 2024Mostly
PremisesModerate risk · fix by 29 February 2024Not compliant
Temporary absence or discharge of residentsCompliant
Infection controlLow risk · fix by 31 January 2024Mostly
Fire precautionsLow risk · fix by 29 February 2024Mostly
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 Section 40 #230	4 September 2026	€1,277

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 21 January 2026. 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: 60.

Other homes nearby

Worth phoning too if this home has no bed available.

SignaCare Killerig
Private
Carlow, Co. Carlow· 6.3 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,247 / week
Inspection score
64
Beds
55 beds
Phone
059 916 3544
Hillview Convalescence & Nursing Home
Private
Carlow, Co. Carlow· 13 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,263 / week
Inspection score
64
Beds
54 beds
Phone
059 913 9407 / 0599139408
Baltinglass Community Hospital
Public (HSE)
Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow· 14 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€2,134 / week
Inspection score
72
Beds
54 beds
Phone
059 645 1600
Sacred Heart Hospital
Public (HSE)
Carlow, Co. Carlow· 15 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,908 / week
Inspection score
75
Beds
63 beds
Phone
059 913 36470
St Fiacc's House
Voluntary
Graiguecullen, Co. Carlow· 16 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
Price not published
Inspection score
89
Beds
17 beds
Phone
059 914 3892
SignaCare Bunclody
Private
Bunclody, Co. Wexford· 17 km away
Fair Deal weekly price
€1,240 / week
Inspection score
91
Beds
62 beds
Phone
053 937 6222

Inspection score

82/ 100

Mostly compliant

Steady

Ranked 3 of 8 scored homes in Co. Carlow · 3 of 10 within 25 km

Leadership and management82

Quality and safety of care81

What went into the score

20 November 2025 · counts 50%1 not compliant · 6 of 10 compliant · 82
12 February 2025 · counts 30%2 not compliant · 12 of 18 compliant · 82
9 July 2024 · counts 20%2 not compliant · 1 high risk · 11 of 17 compliant · 81

Fair Deal price is about the same as the Co. Carlow median of €1,268 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
Convalescence
Dementia care
Palliative care
Intellectual disability

What inspectors liked

Residents are well cared for by a dedicated and knowledgeable staff team.
The premises is bright, clean, and well maintained with ongoing refurbishment.
Residents have free access to secure outdoor patio areas with seating.
Meals are nutritious, well presented, and residents generally enjoy the food.
Staff training in fire safety and infection control is up to date and regular fire drills are conducted.

What needed to improve

Some care plans are not updated and contain outdated information from 2024.
Fire safety compartmentation is inadequate; many fire doors do not provide required protection.
The resident smoking area lacks appropriate fire safety equipment like extinguishers and call bells.
Floor plans lack critical fire safety information such as compartment lines, evacuation routes, and assembly points.
Storage practices increase fire risk, with flammable items stored near combustible materials.

What residents said

“the grub is great”
“food is delicious”
“the staff are very kind”
“the place is spotless clean”
“sometimes I'm waiting a while for staff to answer the call bell”

Staffing: The home employs registered nurses, care assistants, and other support staff. Staff are trained regularly in mandatory areas such as fire safety and infection control. Nursing cover and skill mix are appropriate to meet residents' needs.
Activities: Residents were observed participating in activities in communal areas and had opportunities for social engagement throughout the day.
Food: Meals are well presented and nutritious with choices such as braised beef steak and seafood and spinach pie. Residents generally enjoy the food, though one mentioned a desire for more variety.
Dementia: Has a dedicated dementia unit. The centre provides care for residents with dementia and has appropriate care plans and support in place.

Summarised by AI from the HIQA report of 20 November 2025. 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

20 November 2025
Unannounced inspection · published Mar 2026
6 compliant3 mostly1 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Statement of purposeCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
Governance and managementLow risk · fix by 20 February 2026Mostly
Notification of incidentsCompliant
Application for registration or renewal of registrationLow risk · fix by 20 February 2026Mostly
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planLow risk · fix by 30 April 2026Not compliant
PremisesCompliant
Infection controlCompliant
Fire precautionsLow risk · fix by 30 June 2026Mostly
Medicines and pharmaceutical servicesCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
12 February 2025
Unannounced inspection · published May 2025
12 compliant4 mostly2 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Persons in chargeCompliant
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentLow risk · fix by 14 April 2025Mostly
RecordsCompliant
Governance and managementLow risk · fix by 31 May 2025Mostly
Notification of incidentsModerate risk · fix by 1 April 2025Not compliant
Complaints procedureCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planLow risk · fix by 1 April 2025Mostly
Health careCompliant
Residents' rightsCompliant
VisitsCompliant
Personal possessionsCompliant
PremisesLow risk · fix by 30 June 2025Mostly
Food and nutritionCompliant
Information for residentsCompliant
Temporary absence or discharge of residentsCompliant
Infection controlModerate risk · fix by 14 April 2025Not compliant
Fire precautionsCompliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
9 July 2024
Unannounced inspection · published Sept 2024
11 compliant4 mostly2 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Written policies and proceduresCompliant
Persons in chargeCompliant
StaffingLow risk · fix by 12 August 2024Mostly
RecordsLow risk · fix by 30 September 2024Mostly
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 31 December 2024Not compliant
Contract for the provision of servicesCompliant
VolunteersCompliant
Notification of incidentsCompliant
Quality and safety of care
Health careCompliant
Managing behaviour that is challengingCompliant
ProtectionCompliant
Communication difficultiesCompliant
End of lifeCompliant
PremisesLow risk · fix by 31 December 2024Mostly
Risk managementCompliant
Infection controlLow risk · fix by 30 September 2024Mostly
Fire precautionsHigh risk · fix by 30 August 2024Not compliant
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)
6 December 2023
Announced inspection · published Feb 2024
9 compliant4 mostly3 not compliant
ShowHide
Leadership and management
Statement of purposeCompliant
StaffingCompliant
Training and staff developmentCompliant
Directory of residentsCompliant
RecordsLow risk · fix by 30 January 2024Mostly
InsuranceCompliant
Governance and managementModerate risk · fix by 29 February 2024Not compliant
Quality and safety of care
Individual assessment and care planCompliant
Health careModerate risk · fix by 29 February 2024Not compliant
ProtectionCompliant
Residents' rightsCompliant
End of lifeLow risk · fix by 31 January 2024Mostly
PremisesModerate risk · fix by 29 February 2024Not compliant
Temporary absence or discharge of residentsCompliant
Infection controlLow risk · fix by 31 January 2024Mostly
Fire precautionsLow risk · fix by 29 February 2024Mostly
Read the full HIQA report (PDF)

Fair Deal price

List	Published	Weekly price
HSE Section 40 #230	4 September 2026	€1,277

Registration conditions

Read the conditions HIQA attached to this registration

Other homes nearby

Worth phoning too if this home has no bed available.

SignaCare Killerig

Private

Carlow, Co. Carlow· 6.3 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,247 / week
Inspection score: 64
Beds: 55 beds
Phone: 059 916 3544

Hillview Convalescence & Nursing Home

Private

Carlow, Co. Carlow· 13 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,263 / week
Inspection score: 64
Beds: 54 beds
Phone: 059 913 9407 / 0599139408

Baltinglass Community Hospital

Public (HSE)

Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow· 14 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €2,134 / week
Inspection score: 72
Beds: 54 beds
Phone: 059 645 1600

Sacred Heart Hospital

Public (HSE)

Carlow, Co. Carlow· 15 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,908 / week
Inspection score: 75
Beds: 63 beds
Phone: 059 913 36470

St Fiacc's House

Voluntary

Graiguecullen, Co. Carlow· 16 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: Price not published
Inspection score: 89
Beds: 17 beds
Phone: 059 914 3892

SignaCare Bunclody

Private

Bunclody, Co. Wexford· 17 km away

Fair Deal weekly price: €1,240 / week
Inspection score: 91
Beds: 62 beds
Phone: 053 937 6222