Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for the attempted answer and giving me a history lesson on the matter. It is beyond frustration and beyond anger. If a Government can stand over 2,000 people suffering and getting worse, there is something seriously wrong. If Saolta and the Health Service Executive cannot erect two modular theatres, which were supposed to be temporary, something is seriously wrong. We appeal to and ask the Government to take a hands-on approach. That was done by the Minister in October 2017. We had all the stakeholders somewhere in this building and they said the theatres would be provided. They have not been provided since then. I cannot stand here as an elected representative and talk about frustration. These people are suffering. Something is seriously wrong with management and decisions relating to management have to be made by the Minister. This is in a hospital that has 67 nursing vacancies, 35 physiotherapy and occupational therapy vacancies, 23 management and administration vacancies, which, on reflection, we may need fewer of, and 17 other vacancies which have not been identified.

It is not possible to stand here and talk about frustration. We need a solution to this. There has to be some way to put in modular theatres as a matter of urgency. They are temporary. We are avoiding the local authority for planning and many other things.

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