Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

Are the health and community projects in disadvantaged areas, including 120 projects announced by Government last December, in jeopardy given that the Department of Finance is set to block their funding? Can the Minister give a commitment that these will be maintained, particularly given they are in the RAPID and CLÁR areas?

On the issue of Mallow and Monaghan hospitals, will Thursday's HSE meeting consider the closure or partial closure of these hospitals?

With regard to the acute unit in Kerry General Hospital, will the Minister ensure that a health and safety audit will be carried out on the acute psychiatric unit to assess the impact of the cuts on both staff and patients and the likely implications these may have on the health and safety of those concerned? I submitted a question previously to the Department on the issue of a related Labour Court decision and it has been referred to the HSE. The decision was that a consultation process would take place between the staff, a union representative and the HSE before the cuts were made.

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