Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The myth has been peddled by the Government and the previous Government that the trolley crisis is getting better but we all know it is not. Deputy Barry mentioned The Who. I quoted lyrics from the band last week: "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss". Now meet the new Tánaiste and the new Minister for Health; they are the same as the old Tánaiste and the old Minister for Health

With regard to temporary patient accommodation solutions for STGH, the Minister confirmed in reply to a parliamentary question I tabled only eight weeks ago that the mini-tender procurement process for the hospital had still not even been finalised 18 months later.

The Minister in his reply also made it clear that decisions will be made based only on the outcome of that mini-tender procurement process.

It is all baloney. This is an indictment of the lack of HSE will to escalate this issue, particularly since there is, at least on paper, an explicit acceptance from the HSE and the Department that South Tipperary General Hospital has specific challenges in regard to capacity. That is not acceptable. We have to be included in the mid-term review of the investment programme. We have been neglected for too long. All the platitudes, mini-tenders and hotel accommodation in the world are no good for the sick people of Tipperary or the staff at South Tipperary General Hospital, who work so hard. We need new ideas. It cannot be the same old boss, old Tánaiste and old Minister.

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