Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is difficult to respond as the Minister is not here, but I hope the Minister of State will relay my comments to him. I am especially pleased the Minister of State indicated the unit is not fit for purpose as that is what the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, stated two years ago and the crisis is ongoing. The amalgamation caused the crisis and the Minister of State mentioned the hospitals at Ennis, Nenagh and St. John's. Closing the accident and emergency departments in those facilities caused the crisis.

Is the expected opening in March 2017? If the date has been decided, has the Minister drawn up plans to incorporate existing accident and emergency staff into the new department? In that context has the Minister spoken to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, the Irish Medical Organisation and other relevant unions and representative associations who will be involved in amalgamating the staff?

If the new unit is established, what new skills will be required? How is the recruitment drive for the accident and emergency department proceeding? In the framework of the hospital's operational plan for 2016, it states that the hospital will need to reduce total staff numbers in 2016 to achieve financial targets contained within the acute hospital division operational plan.

Is there any plan to reform and invest in modern diagnostic services, such as X-ray scanners, ultrasounds, etc. that will allow faster turnaround of patients? Currently, there are not sufficiently skilled staff available to operate existing equipment so the service is running at half capacity. This delay is increasing the number of people staying in beds in the hospital for longer than needed. We could have such people looked after properly in the community, with proper home help and assistance.

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