James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I acknowledge the concerns expressed by the Deputy regarding Roscommon hospital. However, I have investigated with HIQA and the HSE every option for keeping the hospital. I was told it was not safe to keep the emergency department open and that is the long and the short of it.

I stated previously that I will be honest with the House in indicating whether a decision is based on safety or matters of money. I am willing to admit to Deputy Ó Caoláin that the issue in Monaghan is budgetary in nature rather than about safety. The issue in Roscommon involved safety, however. The situation in Roscommon is unlike the situation in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital. The situation is far worse than in Galway University Hospital.

We experience surges but it is interesting to note that the special delivery unit discovered that a major surge does not occur in January. The tremendous problems that have arisen in the month of January were caused by a combination of people returning from holidays and increased activity in elective surgery, allied with what is there already.

Specific initiatives are being taken in Galway and new management is being put in place. Recent appointments have included a new chief financial officer and chief operations, and a new CEO will also be appointed as part of a wider initiative including Limerick mid-west to allow for upskilling across HSE west hospitals.

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