Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

An issue we talk about all the time and about which the Taoiseach said he was shocked is the trolley crisis and delays in emergency departments. We have been trying to extend the community hospital in Clogheen in Tipperary for six or seven years. It is a fabulous facility and excellent care is provided there. A number of local organisations, Friends of St. Theresa's and Boston Scientific, have contributed €400,000 to the extension which has got planning permission and for which a builder has been appointed. The Minister visited the hospital on 15 September 2017 and we were promised that works would start before the end of 2017, but there is no sign of any work at the moment. It is totally embarrassing and Boston Scientific has stated that it will reallocate the money to another project because it has a timescale. The fundraisers are highly embarrassed because people, such as families and former patients, made contributions in good faith but there is no quid pro quofrom the HSE. When is it going to progress this development? Will it be included in the capital plan, which we are told will be announced imminently?

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