Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I, too, want to raise a few issues concerning St. Brigid's, which is in my constituency. The last time the delegates were in, they were asked for documentation on the decisions to close St. Brigid's and other places. Nothing was received but a redacted document that was an insult to members of this committee and others who asked for the information. Of perhaps five or six pages, you could read only about 100 words. There were black pages. We still have not got any documentation from the HSE on the reasons for closing the places in question.

It seems to be the estates side of the HSE that is taking the decisions, based on opinions, as we gathered here on the last occasion. There were no minutes taken of a meeting and no engineers' reports with reasons; it was a matter of opinion. We all have opinions but our opinions and those of the HSE affect families in Tipperary, Galway and Cork. If the HSE or the estates part of that body is making decisions that result in the closure of places, the reasons should at the very least be in the minutes, especially when a committee like this or a Member of the Dáil is asking for the kind of information in question.

I meant to bring in the document with redactions so I could show it to the public again. It was a complete and utter insult to us as committee members and even to the staff who go to so much trouble to run committees.

After asking, we were told that flooding was one of the reasons for closing St. Brigid's. Someone in their wisdom decided to spend €2 million on a building beside it, on the very same yard or site. I am referring to a new primary care centre that had to have the floor lifted. Who takes responsibility for these kinds of decisions? If St. Brigid's is on a flood plain, as we have been told, what is the evidence? We have asked for documents or reports from over the years that indicate flooding was a problem at St. Brigid's, but there are none. We are not being given any documentation stating it ever flooded because there is none. Therefore, the reason given is a red herring.