Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I too wish to express my disappointment in the HSE on foot of this decision which I regard as hasty and unnecessary. It is dressed up as a cost saving. I ask the Minister to inform the House of the efforts made by the HSE to save costs in administration in other areas rather than hit front line services in Laois.

I visited the regional hospital in Portlaoise last week and saw 21 people on trolleys by dent of the fact that all the medical and surgical wards are occupied by people who are undergoing long-term treatment, most of whom are elderly. Where are these people in Laois to receive long-term residential care? Abbeyleix must be linked closely with Mountmellick. St. Vincent's hospital, Mountmellick, is an excellent facility, where at least two wards have been closed for some time. I take it the staff in Abbeyleix will be redeployed to Mountmellick and that Mountmellick will re-open, expand and develop. I ask the Minister to reassure the residents who must leave Abbeyleix nursing unit that they will be looked after and to state where they will be looked after.

On foot of what study or information on long-term care of the elderly was this decision made? I understand there are more than 2,000 adults in Laois, all of whom are over 80 years of age. Most of those who needed care received it either in St. Brigid's hospital, Shane, the district hospital in Abbeyleix - which I understand is to close - and in St. Vincent's hospital, Mountmellick. There is a question mark over the future of St. Brigid's hospital, Shane, which I want cleared up and the matter addressed. I ask the Minister to assure the people of County Laois that care of the elderly will be such as is required by the thousands of people who have reached old age, most of whom have served the State well in terms of paying their taxes and their contribution to society and who have a question mark over their final years. This is a wrong decision which was hastily taken. I would like to see a full briefing note as to how the HSE decided to undertake this move in Laois at a time when hard-pressed families are experiencing grave difficulties.

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