Michael Smith (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

I wish to share time with Deputy Hoctor.

Since 1997 there have been significant developments in the county hospital in Nenagh, including the appointment of a range of consultants, nursing and other staff, the refurbishment and extension of the hospital and the building of a one-stop shop to incorporate a range of administrative and other services.

We are now on the cusp of a major extension that will include the accident and emergency department, laboratory and x-ray facilities. We are asking that the x-ray facility, housing the CT scanner so essential for the development of services in the hospital, be included in the overall contract. As the project was planned, the x-ray facility was an integral part of the facilities and we urge the Minister of State to respond in a positive way to the final stage of a significant development for the hospital.

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