The Minister for Health has rejected statements in the Dáil that Abbeyleix Community Nursing Home is closing.
James Reilly said the long-term residential bed element was moving, but the day-care services were being expanded.
He said the respite services would transfer to a private provider following consultation with residents and their families.
He said endeavours would be made to move the patients to the same facility if they so wished.
Minister Reilly was responding to Billy Kelleher, Brian Stanley and Charlie Flanagan who put down a Topical Issues question on the subject.
Sinn Féin's Brian Stanley said it was a black day for the health services in the midlands with the closures of Abbeyleix Hospital and another facility in Portlaoise.
He accused the minister of setting out to destroy public nuring home facilities in Laois since taking power.
Charlie Flanagan, who is the Chairperson of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, called on his party colleague to commit to the re-opening of closed wards at the Mountmellick facility, which is the only other long-term elderly care facility in Co Laois.
Fianna Fáil's Billy Kelleher said it was clear there was going to be a sustained attack on public nursing homes by the Government.
