Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Again, I apologise but I am unable to answer the Deputy's question directly. As I understand it, the unit will not open in May but is to be handed over to the hospital group at the end of March, with the timeline in terms of deep cleaning, commissioning and training of the staff yet to be identified. I will make the Deputy's views known to the Minister, Deputy Harris. A huge amount of funding has been already put in place to try to alleviate the problems in this area. It would be better for everybody if that funding was invested in the opening of the unit rather than on fighting fires or other measures which are always going to be a temporary fix. I will bring the Deputy's concerns to the Minister and ask that he respond to her as quickly as possible.

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