John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

I appreciate the matter I am about to raise is at an early stage in the context of its proposal relative to the sale of land in the ownership of the HSE. I know that throughout the country a considerable amount of land is available through the former health boards and now in the ownership of the HSE. As Vice Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, I recognise the opportunity to raise funds from the sale of these lands to reinvest in the health services.

Yesterday I sent an open letter to the chief executive of the HSE, Professor Brendan Drumm, and to the county manager of Kilkenny County Council regarding a site in Kilkenny at St. Canice's Hospital. I have asked that the widest consultation possible be engaged in on the issue of the site and that the consultation involve all the stakeholders in Kilkenny, the HSE, the local authority and the public. The site is important to Kilkenny city and there are many demands in the city and county for services such as an Alzheimer's unit, care for the elderly, which was mentioned in the Minister of State's previous reply, and services for those with autism. There are other issues relevant to the community such as the Butler Gallery, controlled private housing and the fact that because this site, which is almost central to the city, backs on to the River Nore, there is a possibility of private investment and a controlled private housing development. There is also a possibility of a public park. A wide range of activities and development could take place on that site. It is an unprecedented opportunity for Kilkenny to develop a site of this size.

I do not want it sold to the highest bidder. I do not want developers to come in and put in blocks and rows of houses. We need a radical approach that will realise the dreams of some on the services they provide for patients in Kilkenny. The funds from the sale of various pieces of the land should be invested in providing services directly to patients. There is an issue as regards the pitch and putt club, which forms part of that land. If the whole process is allowed to go too far there will be little room for consultation or debate and we will end up with another site that has high density housing, with very little regard for the civic and public interest in Kilkenny.

This is a unique opportunity. It is not one where we should seek the last euro from the developer, thus forcing him to opt for the highest possible density so that the profit bottom line may be upheld. The HSE should give a lead in this area. It should proactively involve the local authority. With the local authority it should set up some public forum. It should devise a plan relative to the community gain and the services that are needed. Arising from that, it should enter into the controlled sale and development of that enormous site. This is about the citizens of Kilkenny demanding that space be found for services, amenities and recreation that children and senior citizens' need.

In his last reply the Minister of State mentioned care of the elderly. That is one aspect of this development in which I am keenly interested. The HSE has invested in a care for the elderly unit — I believe the Minister of State was in it some time ago. It is time to extend that to a long-stay care unit for those in the community who are elderly and need that type of care now. We have a deficit as regards beds in that area. There is a heavy demand on the beds in Thomastown and Castlecomer. There are few if any beds in Kilkenny city for care of the elderly. Now that this opportunity has been presented, we should give the lead in this area. I urge the Minister of State to take the brave step and consult the local county manager, Kilkenny County Council, Kilkenny Borough Council and the other stakeholders in this area to make this plan a reality.

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