Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very disappointed because we have had promises about this. The extra capacity was expected to be available from early May and could be used to accommodate a space for up to 11 trolley bays. It should be remembered that these would only be on corridors. It is almost certain the modular patient hotel for South Tipperary General Hospital will not be delivered for at least another year. The Minister talked about many tendering processes and everything else. If we get the modular hotel, as promised in a blaze of glory to my colleague, Deputy Lowry, a year ago this month, it is estimated that the 40-bed unit will cost €60,000 per week to operate. I note that the Minister in his reply tells me that the corridor issue is nearly solved, there is space there for 11 trolleys - not beds - and he now has recruitment ongoing for staff. Why can he not do the two in tandem? I understand from my colleague who visited last week that the place is ready now, and now the Minister is looking for the staff and hopes to have the unit ready for September. Why can nothing be done in tandem? The hospital has been operating at emergency status for the past 17 months. It is under enormous pressure. Why can the recruitment not go on in tandem with the construction work and mini tender? Everything is just a matter of fobbing off and going back and forward. We will have another review and another capacity review by the South/South West hospital group and another one at a national level. It is just not good enough; it is not happening. The Minister visited Cashel with me and saw the spaces and the capacity there.

See this speech in context