Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Many people in County Tipperary cannot understand why major surgery is cancelled in Clonmel with early discharges because of lack of beds, not enough step-down or convalescent beds, insufficient home care packages and reductions in home help hours. People are baffled and bewildered because while this is happening in Clonmel, there is a magnificent building up the road in Cashel, which was refurbished at a cost of €20 million since 2007. Three of its floors, which could take between 30 and 35 beds, are empty. They are in excellent condition. I ask that Cashel be reopened and developed as a primary, community care centre. It is a premium facility lying idle. It is shameful and mind-boggling that the Health Service Executive, HSE, is not using the building to its maximum potential at a time when the other problems exist in Clonmel. Will the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health give priority to reopening Cashel and making it available to deliver health care services to the people of Tipperary?

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