Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I refer to the licensing of health facilities Bill. There is a great degree of distress and anger among patients and relatives of those who are and have been resident at Loughloe House in Athlone, which has now been earmarked for closure by the HSE. A HIQA report on this facility has not yet been published. It recommends significant changes but, I believe, it does not recommend closure. Is there not now a serious question as to how the HSE is utilising HIQA reports? While this report has not been published, why would the HSE have announced a decision to close this facility, causing untold distress? This is an issue for the Minister for Health and Children to make a direct intervention in order to establish what has given rise to the HSE's decision. I urge the Taoiseach to take a personal interest in this case because there is a worrying indication that the HSE may very well be taking the decision in the context of cost-saving measures and not about patient safety, because HIQA is not recommending closure.

Will the Taoiseach bring forward the licensing of health facilities Bill which has yet to be published so that the House can properly address this matter? Will he undertake to make an intervention with the Minister in the context of the case I have mentioned, Loughloe House at Athlone?

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