Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The real issue here is a lack of resources and staff. There have been some improvements. The budget has gone from €44 million to €56 million this year. There have been improvements in the maternity services, which have almost a full complement of staff now, whereas before they were working with less than half the staff required. Portlaoise has always been on the back foot. Ms Susan O'Reilly wants to spend €100 million on a fantasy plan. If €10 million of that were given to Portlaoise, I guarantee that we would have a good, state-of-the-art, properly equipped hospital.

In reply to a parliamentary question I raised over a week ago, the Minister gave an answer similar the one the Minister of State has just given. It seems as if the Minister is kicking the can down the road, because he said, "Once there is an agreed position on the draft plan, it is intended there will be a further engagement with all interested parties". The draft plan has been on the Minister's desk for the past year. Who is to agree that position?

We need certainty. The answer to the parliamentary question and the reply here today do not give us any certainty. We need confirmation of what is happening. People in Laois and the surrounding counties are entitled to answers to that. Reports on Laois are getting worse by the week. It is obvious what is coming. The Laois faculty of the Irish College of General Practitioners and Midoc have expressed a total lack of confidence in Susan O'Reilly. She is due to retire in early January. She will go, but the local community will still be there. The people will be there. This is her plan, but it is on the Minister's head as to whether it is signed off on.

The plan put forward by both the GPs and the Midoc staff mentions that, "it is recognised internationally that attempting to centralise high volume essential services produces risks for patients and does not achieve cost savings". They go on to say that it should be the bedrock of a system that is already low in terms of capacity. The Minister is here day after day. There is no capacity in the system. There has to be a regional network. I want the Minister of State to take that message back to the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris. There has to be a regional network of fully equipped emergency departments. Portlaoise is in the strategic location for that. I want the Minister to come back quickly on this matter, secure the future of the hospital and put Ms O'Reilly's plan through the shredder. She is retiring in the first week of January and she needs to take her plan with her. The copy that the Minister of State has should be put in the shredder.

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