Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. It is welcome that the project group has been established because we were told at the meeting I attended earlier this year that it would happen in quarter 1. This was reiterated in replies to parliamentary questions I had tabled. It is also welcome that the first meeting of the group will be held on 4 May. Which interests are represented on it? Are there people with technical expertise in the Department on it?

The community nursing unit is registered with HIQA and has a capacity of 20 patients. It had higher capacity in years gone by, but standards have changed and a huge upgrade is needed. However, there is also a need for additional places because people from the town and surrounding areas are in nursing homes in County Tipperary. The Minister of State referred to step-up and step-down facilities for those receiving acute treatment and the need for respite care. The respite care service provided by the unit is very much valued by the local community and much sought after. I receive many representations on it. Why can it not have more long-stay beds?

There is also the issue of ensuring the unit has enough staff to keep it operational. When something is being run on a 24/7 basis, a critical mass of patients is needed to maximise use of the staff and facilities. A total of 20 residents will not result in that happening. I, therefore, urge the Minister of State to think big and aim to have a capacity of 45 or 50 beds.

The friends of the hospital committee has raised a lot of money. It should not have had to do this, but it did anyway during the years and it is still active in that regard.

When is it anticipated that the project group will produce a plan? When will the plan be put out to tender? When will it get into the all-important capital programme to make sure there will be euro and cent in place? We need a plan, a timeline and funding. That is what the people of County Laois want to hear about because this has been an issue for a long time. It is welcome that we prevented the closure of the unit. I also welcome the Government's commitment to it, but we want the project group to bring forward its plan with a timeline and funding in place.

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