Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)

That package will be delivered. I acknowledge this is a promise but there is not much point in me asking for a second promise. I have been involved in negotiations since May 2003 at senior political, administrative and professional level and I am convinced that the contents of this package will be delivered. That is why I was elected. The announcement of a 24 hour a day, seven days a week unit at Monaghan General Hospital is what the people of Monaghan want. They want a CAT scanner, services and junior doctors. That package will be delivered and I thank Deputy Martin for delivering it. Be it at the eleventh or any other hour, I am glad the commitment was made.

I will be here to see the package is delivered and I have nailed my colours to the mast in saying it will come. On my first day in Dáil Éireann my call was for the retention of an on-call accident and emergency service at Monaghan General Hospital and for the provision of a CAT scanner. I have a commitment on that and I expect it will stand. There are difficulties with timeframes but it is a challenge for me to ensure the package is delivered. If the CAT scanner is left out of a speech or an answer, it is my job to ask the questions and to remind the new Minister, whom I wish well, to deliver it. This will remove the vagueness.

The major concern of the people in Monaghan, Ennis or Nenagh is the accident and emergency service. The new Minister and the Government must find a way to deliver that service to the people. People have no problem with centres of excellence, they will travel for a hip operation or heart surgery, but they want a facility nearby in an emergency where they can be stabilised after a head injury or receive anti-thrombolic medication within the critical 20 minute period following a heart attack. If one then needs to go further so be it. The accident and emergency service is vital. In the national spatial strategy we talked about hub towns and gateways and a hospital is a key facility in each town. It makes it easier to attract industry and ensure it stays.

I agree with Deputy Neville's comments on mental health services. We must pump extra funding into that area. We talk about mental health services and suicide, wring our hands and leave it at that. Money is needed. We have a new way to deliver mental health services, they are more home-based and cost effective and I ask the Minister to take on board the appeals for extra funding.

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