Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I think most people in this room will agree with me when I say that from a political perspective there is every reason in the world to go down and save the hospital today. None of us in this room or in these Houses would want to see it closed. I propose that we invite the HSE and HIQA to come and explain precisely what needs to be done to maintain the hospital and keep it open. Clearly there has been fundraising there to maintain the building so there is very little excuse with respect to the building. If minor changes need to be made then they can be made. I would also like a study to be done on the cost to the individuals who have people in palliative care or people who are stranded in Ardkeen hospital or whatever other major hospital they are in, purely because there is not a step-down facility available within their community. Sometimes we look at the macro figure of the total cost of the hospital without looking at the knock-on cost to the community, with money spent on public transport for example. There is no public transport. I am fairly familiar with the area. My missus is from down that neck of the woods and I forgive her for that.