Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a result of my visit to Cashel with the Deputy and his Oireachtas colleagues representing Tipperary across the political spectrum, I directed the HSE to put in place a plan to utilise Cashel so that it can help alleviate pressure in Clonmel - in addition to the 11 bays in Clonmel, the consideration of the modular accommodation and the master plan - so we can have a real capital development. As a result, the proposal that the HSE has come up with for Cashel now predominantly focuses on older people and on the idea of developing the Cashel health campus to provide services for the local population. These services can be developed in the existing accommodation at the former Our Lady's Hospital. However, this will involve additional resource requirements including specialist staff. Therefore, I am telling the Deputy today that this will be considered in the context of the budget for 2018 and I will keep in touch with him and other Oireachtas Members from Tipperary about that.

See this speech in context