Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

There is a crisis in the provision of long-term care in County Laois as evidenced by the second closure of a long-established unit in as many weeks. I must comment on the antics of Deputy Seán Fleming yesterday. He knows that his party contributed to the crisis in the county by dint of years of underinvestment in facilities when we had money. The hypocrisy of Fianna Fáil is breathtaking.

That said, I want this issue resolved. How does the HSE propose to reduce the number of beds from almost 300 five years ago to a mere 130 today? It is a crisis and we cannot expect the county to be denuded of institutional care for the elderly when at least 4% of the community have a requirement for such services. Why is County Laois being targeted for repeated closures? If these closures proceed, I ask the Minister to commit to reopening the closed wards at the sole remaining long-term residential care facility in the county at Mountmellick, where, as Deputy Stanley has said, scores of beds have been taken out of commission under Fianna Fáil. I want the Minister to commit to reinstating these beds, opening up that hospital and more than anything else providing quality long-term care for elderly people in County Laois.

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