Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

I refer specifically and directly to the new community hospital in Dingle, which remains closed. The old hospital, St. Elizabeth's, is in existence since the time of the Famine and comprises 43 beds with very limited shower and bathroom facilities. It is a three-storey building that is not suitable for people with mobility difficulties. The new community hospital was built at a cost of €16 million on lands kindly made available for a nominal fee by the O'Connor family from Dingle. Construction finished on this facility in December 2008. As we approach December 2010, it remains unopened. At last month's regional health forum, Members were advised that the facility costs €4,000 per week between security, lighting and heating and it remains closed.

The HIQA registration process was initiated in February 2010 and I wonder why it was left until that point. It has not been completed due to the fact that the facility is not meeting the standards required by HIQA. There was a communication from the HSE on 23 September.

The direction the Health Service Executive gave to members of the forum was that they had to communicate with HIQA on a way forward. I can give them the way forward. The Minister could have directed them and given them the way forward. She should invoke the grandfather clause. If they had opened the facility in Dingle, the HIQA grandfather clause would allow the Health Service Executive three years to bring standards up to date.

I commend Deputy Reilly on tabling the motion but, equally, I call on my colleagues, the Independent Member, Deputy Healy-Rae, and Deputy O'Donoghue to vote in favour of the motion and to have Dingle hospital opened immediately. If that is not done I ask the Minister to invoke the grandfather clause and to have to have Dingle community hospital opened immediately.

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