Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response and acknowledge he is speaking on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Daly.

The Minister of State began: "The Government's core stated objective is to promote care in the community in order that people can continue to live with confidence, security and dignity in their homes and communities for as long as possible." If he was to cut the sentence that followed and insert his own, he might say: "There is a possibility we will close a 44-bed unit in Cobh and remove a community care service from the community in Castlemartyr that services Ballycotton, Cloyne, Castlemartyr, Ladysbridge, Garryvoe, Killeagh, Inch and Youghal." One could go on and on because it is a large demographic area. The response was a pure contradiction. I do not mean that as an attack on the Minister of State but rather wish to put it on the record. If the decision is supposed to promote "confidence, security and dignity" in communities, it is a farce.

The Minister of State mentioned the NHSS and stated: "Participants in the scheme contribute to the cost of their care according to their means, while the State pays the balance of the cost." It is great that the State pays the balance of the cost but it is not State money; it is taxpayers' money. The Minister of State described it as Government funding but it is taxpayers' money. The people pay for their own care. Let us try to keep the discussion clean and factual.

I welcome the engagement with the HSE and the hospital board, and I hope it grows. I heard that the hospital was financially viable but my worry is that is like saying one can cash the thanks inside in the bank; but what bank does one use to cash the thanks? If there is not a good guarantee, there will be serious consequences.

I tabled a number of parliamentary questions to the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, on 12 September. While I understand the position of the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, I am disappointed with the HSE and whoever is responsible for having kept the matter quiet and closing the vital service in Castlemartyr, east County Cork. It affects everybody all the way to Cobh. We have spoken about primary care and community care but we should invest in a primary care centre in Youghal while keeping those in Castlemartyr, Midleton, Cobh and Carrigtwohill.

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