Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I again raise the issue of St. Brigid's District Hospital in Carrick-On-Suir. I take great interest in health issues but, in my time in politics, I have rarely seen an issue on which people have been misled so much. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, gave a commitment to Deputy Cahill that it would reopen in July. A number of commitments were given to all public representatives. I also have correspondence from July. Up until recently, we understood from our conversations with the HSE that it was to reopen. This is a very sensitive matter in that county for palliative care and respite. The idea that we will just purchase beds in other areas is not on. It is also not on that the HSE, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, would treat public representatives in a way whereby until literally hours or days ago we were being totally misled. I ask the Tánaiste to look into this. How all of a sudden is this facility being closed despite assurances being given to members of the Tánaiste's own party and Government that it would reopen?

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