A residence for people with acquired brain injury - the first such facility in the State outside of Dublin - was opened in Limerick yesterday.
It will be capable of providing specialised 24-hour care to four people.
The project is funded by the Health Service Executive Mid-Western Area in a public-private partnership with the Peter Bradley Foundation.
Ms Barbara O'Connell, chief executive and co-founder of the Peter Bradley Foundation, said that families throughout Ireland were finding themselves in daily crisis as they struggled to cope with the personal tragedy of brain injury and that this was compounded by a lack of specialist services.
"The Peter Bradley Foundation aims to open residences throughout the country for the many people contacting us in crisis and to develop other specialist brain injury services," Ms O'Connell said.
There are about 10,000 people with acquired brain injury in Ireland and the foundation is the only organisation providing assisted living for them.
The injuries usually occur as a result of traffic accidents, overdose attempts or violent assaults and most of those affected are men aged under 35.
The foundation seeks to provide a home-from-home environment and other community services.
The Peter Bradley Foundation has three houses in Dublin along with a community rehabilitation service.
Another residence is due to open in Donegal over the coming months.
The residence in Limerick is currently home to two clients, one of whom was previously housed in an unsuitable secure psychiatric setting.
Ms Patricia McLarty, director of disability for the Health Service Executive Mid-Western Area, said that yesterday was a landmark day for those affected by acquired brain injuries.
Ms O'Connell paid tribute to the HSE in the Mid-Western Area and called on the executive in other areas to offer the same assistance.