Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I can certainly acknowledge that the facilities we have in place are not what they should be. However, I equally acknowledge, as have many of the families and the organisation, that the services have greatly improved, particularly with regard to the employment of clinical expertise. I accept that in this and many other areas the need for single rooms is a priority. That is the reason the new paediatric hospital for the country will be all single rooms.

The measures being taken at St. Vincent's Hospital, which will be completed by the end of the summer, are only temporary. It was the hospital's wish that the cystic fibrosis facilities would be part of the 120-bed facility to be built there. For many reasons, the hospital did not believe it was appropriate to build a cystic fibrosis unit separate from the 120-bed facility. That is the reason a modular-type facility will be put in place and ready by the end of the summer.

We have a long way to go. The Deputy is correct that we have 1,100 cystic fibrosis patients, 45% of whom are children and 55% are adults. The life expectancy has greatly improved here, as acknowledged by Professor McElvaney.

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