James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I am delighted that Longford-Westmeath Regional Hospital has scored so highly in the new HSE monthly performance table published through HealthStat, which sees it placed among the top three hospitals in the country. It has achieved this position due to the initiative of the staff rather than because of any support from the Minister. Mullingar Hospital is a valuable facility for the midlands and has proved time and again that it is working to a very high standard — I compliment the staff on that — despite the Minister's failure to meet promises to complete phase 2B of the hospital's infrastructural development. It has also suffered as a result of the removal of the cancer unit, which left seriously ill patients forced to travel long distances to access services which had been more than adequately provided locally. We had a good service, but it has been removed.

We have waited for well over a decade, but the essential health infrastructure for the midlands, namely the completion of phase 2B of Longford-Westmeath Regional Hospital, remains an aspiration. Lives will be lost if the Government continues to turn its back on its completion. Anything that is in place in Mullingar was put in place by Fine Gael Ministers. The late Gerry L'Estrange, when he was Minister of State at the Department of Health, ensured that Mullingar had a hospital. When Deputy Michael Noonan was Minister some 13 years ago, he opened the extension that this Government has failed to equip.

The hospital is situated in the heart of Ireland and is the only acute hospital on the N4 between Dublin and Sligo. It is a life-saving centre of the highest standard that can match any other facility in the country. One obstacle after another has been overcome by the hospital and a very fine facility has emerged, of which we can all be justifiably proud. This is due to the hard work and dedication of the staff, who must be rewarded by the Government. The farce of dragging out the Government's commitment to phase 2B must end and the outstanding ring-fenced funding must be provided. I call on the Minister to stop releasing the money in phases and sub-phases, which delays the development of the hospital. I call on her to finalise the initial plans, which were approved well over a decade ago, by providing the promised funding. We want it now.

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