Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That was some response. What it tells us is that the Minister is happy for plans, which have been in place for ten years, for an extension to the emergency department to proceed under his watch without an X-ray room. It is like building a house without a roof. How can the Minister stand over this? The Minister of State's reply was typical HSE spiel. He mentioned the 29 beds. They are welcome, but we already knew about them.

When an emergency department is extended, of course there will be more patients coming to it. Some 80% of patients who attend an emergency department need some sort of X-ray or scan. I have said until I have turned blue in the face that the current X-ray room is working beyond capacity and its equipment is obsolete. The programme for Government calls for capital funding to be invested in our health services, but this is rubbish. The Government is extending an emergency department without installing a badly needed X-ray room that was included and costed in the tender. Why was the money pulled at the last minute and where does patient care come into this? I will not let this go. It is pure and utter madness. I will raise this matter with the Minister again at the next opportunity. It is ludicrous, as it does not put patients first. Everything that is written in the programme for Government is baloney if this is the real action being taken and the Government is prepared to stand over such ludicrousness. It is unbelievable.

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