Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My final points are local. Thomastown has a nursing home in Kilkenny and for years HIQA has told us it is not up to scratch because, as the witness referenced, it is an old building and there are fire hazards. There are supposed to be plans in place to build a new hospital and there is land on a greenfield site. I wonder how advanced that is as I am told HIQA has warned the HSE on numerous occasions that if it does not do something soon, it will close the Thomastown facility. We cannot lose that important service in south Kilkenny, as it is most important for older people in nursing care in the area.