Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this important matter, namely, the delay in the provision of the long-awaited 14-bed extension to Kenmare community hospital. I have raised the issue on a regular basis in the past ten years but nobody seems to listen to me or the exasperated people of Kenmare. However, I will continue to raise it until somebody listens and the funding is provided, and the people of Kenmare get the decent hospital they deserve.

The delay is unbelievable. A press release from the former Southern Health Board, dated 3 June 2000, states that at a meeting of the board members on Tuesday, 2 May 2000 the members adopted the national development plan for the Southern Health Board area for the next six years and that the plan covered capital investment for the board. The press release stated that the funding allocated was on a priority basis whereby the urgent needs of each board area was taken into account. Among the developments was the extension to Kenmare community hospital. The Southern Health Board stated the project was urgent in 2000 so what is its status now?

A group from Kenmare met the Minister, Deputy Harney, on 20 June this year. At that meeting she stated she was hopeful that Kenmare community hospital would be included in the Estimates in the autumn. It is autumn and the Minister is preparing the health Estimate. Will a commitment be made that the extension to Kenmare community hospital is included in that Estimate? The Minister also stated at the meeting that she would keep in contact with the Health Service Executive on the matter. What communication has taken place between the Minister and the HSE since 20 June in this regard? The representative group from Kenmare which met the Minister has heard nothing.

The provision of the 14-bed extension to Kenmare hospital is urgently required and was deemed urgent by the Southern Health Board in 2000. The population of Kenmare has risen by 30% since 1996 and is still increasing. Many retired and elderly people have settled in Kenmare and the surrounding areas and there is huge demand for additional beds in thehospital. The hospital services cover a very widearea, including Sneem, Castlecove, Lauragh,Tuosist, Kilgarvan, Blackwater and the BlackValley.

The Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, replied to me during an Adjournment debate on 21 February last, stating that the project would not commence in 2006 because of competing demands for capital funding but that the project would be reviewed. I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, will read a prepared script in reply in this debate — there is little he can do about it. However, while he may not be able to answer my questions tonight, he could have the decency to come back to me in the coming days or weeks to tell me whether the project is included in the health Estimate for 2006 and to explain what communication has taken place with the HSE since the meeting with the Minister on 20 June. I look forward to a positive report from the Minister that the project will be included in the Estimate for this year.

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