Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My question is on the Programme for a Partnership Government and not on proposed legislation. In the programme for Government, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health referred to the health budget of €14.6 billion, stating that it demonstrated the Government's commitment to investing the gains of the recovery in better health services, including cutting waiting lists. I have a reply to a problem that arose last October with the orthopaedic theatres at Merlin Park Hospital. The Minister for Health was most helpful in bringing the Deputies from the region together. We were told that the theatres had to close because of roof difficulties. This letter states that the work has been completed on the theatres and a full technical report on the work undertaken is awaited. When the Minister met us he said that the hospital was looking at putting together special modular buildings to deal with this issue. In this same letter we were told that the hospital was still trying to get the modular buildings up and running.

This has hit waiting lists for orthopaedic operations. If the roof has been repaired and we are only waiting on a report, why are the modular units still being progressed? I do not expect an answer from the Taoiseach now as I am a reasonable person. However, would he talk to the Minister for Health to see if he can get a proper answer to this and get those units open as quickly as possible?

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