Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am disgusted that the Minister is not here. He visited this hospital. I brought the issue of the modular unit raised by the consultants in Clonmel hospital to the attention of the Taoiseach during the programme for Government talks in early 2016. Deputy Lowry announced that the unit would be open in the winter of 2016, then in the winter of 2017 and then in the winter of 2018. We are promised it will be open this year but I do not believe it. The modular unit to be brought to Clonmel seems to be abandoned. It would be something if we could get it built, which I hope we do, but no money has been allocated to staff it. We are not allowed to recruit staff for it. It is worst to have more space but fewer staff. Nobody can accept that. This is a serious matter. Funding of €1.4 million for equipment is required but only a few hundred thousand has been allocated.

The fiasco of the national children's hospital - I railed against the proposed location here but none of the parties supported me - is draining every project dry. The Minister is not accountable to anybody for the cervical cancer scandal, for the cost overrun on the national children's hospital or for anything else.

The hospital in Tipperary has the highest number of patients on trolleys last week on trolleys after Cork University Hospital. The latter is twice the size of our hospital. What is happening is outrageous.

See this speech in context