Peter Kelly (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. I congratulate Orla Tinsley on her great campaigning work on behalf of those with cystic fibrosis and their families. In the past year she has campaigned tirelessly on the subject and raised public awareness about cystic fibrosis. At the same time she has battled with her own illness. Cystic fibrosis affects more than 1,161 people here and Ireland has the highest proportion of sufferers in the world. Approximately one in 19 people are carriers of the cystic fibrosis gene. I was amazed to learn that 30 or 40 years ago a baby born with cystic fibrosis was likely to live for only a few months. Today with advances in research and treatment, the majority survive well into adulthood. Having said that, 25 young people died last year alone and this figure is far too high. Shared hospital facilities are deadly for cystic fibrosis patients. The risk of infection through sharing facilities can have life-threatening consequences. I am delighted the new ten-bed unit in St. Vincent's Hospital will proceed and be ready for 2011. The new unit will have single units with en suite facilities and reflects best practice in terms of infection control. I am sorry for any confusion or panic that surrounded the issue in recent weeks. However, the Minister has now given the firm commitment of a 2012 completion date.

Some work has been done to help cystic fibrosis patients in recent years. Some 19 extra staff have been recruited in St. Vincent's Hospital as part of a national initiative to improve services for cystic fibrosis patients. A total of 48 extra staff, including consultant, nursing and allied health professionals, have been appointed across the hospital system. I appreciate that this is not enough, but it is progress. I am glad that the new unit in St. Vincent's Hospital is still a priority for the Government. The new 120-bed hospital unit, incorporating 35 private rooms for cystic fibrosis sufferers, is to go to tender. The estimated cost is approximately €40 million. The tender document needs to be drawn up with details of the new payment method. This project needs to move ahead at full steam. With the HSE, the Minister, Deputy Harney, St. Vincent's Hospital and the Department of Finance working together, this unit should be open in 2011. Everybody welcomes this development. We will all give it our full support and encouragement to ensure it goes ahead. The project was always a priority for the Government. There was no decision to halt or to delay it. We now look forward to it proceeding.

At the moment 63 beds in St. Vincent's Hospital are used for respiratory cystic fibrosis services. I commend the Minister for Health and Children on doing on what is right and proper, which is proceeding with this as a matter of urgency. If at all possible we wish all cystic fibrosis sufferers a speedy recovery. We hope they all benefit from better health.

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