Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To be parochial, the former Mount Carmel Hospital is now a step-down unit run by a private operator. I live very near to the unit and walk by it a lot. I understand there is very poor occupancy there. Does the provider get paid regardless of how many beds are filled? Perhaps the witnesses cannot answer this today as it has just arisen recently. There are abandoned operating theatres there. The car park has grass growing through the pavements. I believe that sometimes there are only 20 or 30 people in the place. Does the cheque get paid no matter what the work is? Perhaps I am being parochial, but could I get an answer to this? Could we have sight of the contract that was awarded to that company? When is it due for review? What are the terms and conditions of that company taking on the contract?