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

I join the Taoiseach, my party leader and others in extending sympathy to the family of Michael Lynch. I knew him through my radio work in the past. I have questioned the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health on many occasions about projects in my local area such as the 50-bed accident and emergency unit at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, the 50-bed unit for older people at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Roscommon and the development at St. Patrick's hospital, Carrick-on-Shannon. There is concern that there seems to be no talk about these developments at present. I cannot prove it, but it appears that nothing is being said about these projects because of the difficulties at the children's hospital. The Ballinasloe project is shovel-ready. All it needs is a Government announcement. As the two Ministers of State from County Galway who are sitting behind the Taoiseach will be aware, there is a lot of chaos in the accident and emergency department at the hospital. It is very hard for the staff to cope. What the patients are going through is unacceptable. I ask the Taoiseach to indicate when the Government might announce the Portiuncula project. It is crucial that we get the go-ahead for it. I am pleading with the Taoiseach today because I have received so many requests to get something done about this matter. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, has received similar requests. Can we look forward to the announcement of the date on which this work will commence?

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