The controversial Leas Cross nursing home at Swords, Co Dublin, is to be sold by tender next month.

Alternatively, the owner may also decide to rent it on a long lease.

Agents Morton & Flanagan are not providing any guide price for the facility which stands on a site of 4.54 acres.

Last July, the Health Service Executive announced it was withdrawing all public patients from the home because it was in breach of regulations. The owner, John Aherne, later decided that the home was no longer financially viable because of the removal of public patients.

The home can cater for 111 patients and, according to the selling agents, it was built to the highest standards and offers "a homely and friendly atmosphere throughout the bright and spacious accommodation." There is a total of 77 bedrooms in a mixture of configurations ranging from single units to twins. A total of 28 bedrooms have en suite facilities.

The agents' brochure says there are six separate sitting areas, a smoking room, three diningrooms with "fantastic well-equipped kitchens", a nurse call system, direct dial telephone, TV in all rooms, paging system and close circuit TV.

Charges at Leas Cross have ranged from €870 per week for a single room, €886 for a similar room with en suite and €787 for a twin bedded room. Day care services are €104 per day.

The original building is around 100 years old and was converted from office use in 1997. The home is comprised of two buildings linked by a connecting corridor. The first was opened in 1998 and the second one was first used in 2002.

Large nursing homes rarely come on the market in the Dublin area where there is a scarcity of accommodation for elderly people.

Morton & Flanagan report a strong intrest in Leas Cross since it was first advertised for sale.