John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Commitments made last year for capital programmes are being adhered to - it is not as if we are talking about a project at some future date. The unit at Beaumont will begin construction this year, and the site in Clonmel is under construction. The acute psychiatric unit in Letterkenny is also under construction. Thankfully, there will be no further referrals to Letterkenny hospital. With regard to St. Ita's, in the Deputy's own constituency, I was out there yesterday morning giving a commitment that the unit in Knockamann would be fully open next month. All the commitments we have made on mental health are being adhered to, thanks to the €50 million capital commitment. I will announce details of further openings. By the way, I forgot to mention St. Loman's in Mullingar, where I turned the sod not long ago for a 100-bed unit. I consider this a work in progress.

See this speech in context