William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)

I thank the Chair. I do not often get an opportunity to be at the health committee here. I want to say thank you for all the money that has been put into the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. I had occasion to be there recently and I want to say that the staff work over and beyond the call of duty.

I was a member of the Midland Health Board for many, many years, as a very young person. We had three hospitals in Laois that we used to look after - Shaen, Abbeyleix and Mountmellick. Those were hospitals for older people in our community. At that time, it was a lot easier to get into those hospitals than it is today. It is very challenging for anybody or their families trying to get someone into them. We are in a situation where we could provide more beds in Shaen hospital. I look forward to either of the Ministers, or the whole lot of them together on the one day, visiting Laois if they would like to. They would be more than welcome. I would also like to see if we can do anything for extra respite beds in Abbeyleix which feeds from the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise. I would also like to ask about Mountmellick hospital which has an extension on it.

Will we be able to keep all the beds that we have in the existing hospital? I have a huge affinity with Mountmellick because my mother worked there as a nurse for many years. We used to visit her there when we were young. It is a great caring hospital. I take this opportunity to thank everybody who works there.

The other question I would like to ask - because I pass them on nearly a daily basis - relates to the houses owned by the HSE. When I was on the health board, we bought the first-ever house for patients. We were trying to bring patients out of Alvernia House and St. Vincent's in Mountmellick. These were young children and older ones with issues. From the outside, the houses seem to be operating very well. I was a member of many visiting committees when I was on the old health board. Who actually visits those houses now? Who goes out and talks to those of the patients in them who can communicate? Dr. Fullam, who was on my visiting committee for many years, was a very good GP. He was able to interact with patients, which is something I would have had a difficulty with.