Chris Andrews (Dublin South East, Fianna Fail)

While we can sit in offices and work in laboratories and come up with the best ways to implement policy and assign treatment centres, we must also acknowledge the human aspect and the more subtle qualities of such a place. We must respect that there is a tradition of palliative care on this site and that enormous work has been done through the years by people who wish to continue providing care on this site. There has been investment in new radiotherapy treatment units or linear accelerators which will increase the treatment capacity of the hospital by up to 25%. It may seem odd that new services are being provided in a centre whose cancer services are to be transferred. However, the reason for this is to ensure the quality of service to cancer patients during the years that it will take to complete the transfer. I welcome the investment of almost €13 million in coming years, which shows a commitment to cancer care and shows foresight.

I understand no decisions have been made regarding the future of the St. Luke's site. However, this is simply not good enough. Residents, patients and doctors cannot hang in the balance without knowing their fate. They deserve assurance that this site with its long tradition of providing health care will remain in the hands of the HSE and will become a step-down facility that will continue to serve the community. If people like Kay Bradbury and the many community groups had not fought the case for the Meath Hospital, it would not be the successful health facility it is today.

The Minister recently said that St Luke's Hospital would be used in the best interests of the health services. The Minister must make a clear statement that this hospital will not be sold to private developers. I urge the Minister not to engage in any coyness and end the uncertainty by confirming that the St. Luke's site will provide step down facilities which are chronically needed. I do not want to be fobbed off with an ambiguous answer.

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