Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Tánaiste is aware, there was a huge extension to Mallow hospital. It is a four-storey building. There are 48 rooms between the second and third floors for hospital beds. Between the ground and first floors, there are 40 rooms - 20 rooms on each floor - and the whole idea was that they would be developed as rehabilitation facilities. There now appears to be a question mark over what the rooms will be used for. Could this be clarified? As the Tánaiste is aware, there is great pressure on Cork regarding hospitals and step-down facilities. We really do not have rehabilitation facilities in the southern region. Could we have clarification? Will the facility be open for rehabilitation rather than having to transfer people to Dún Laoghaire for the rehabilitation programme?

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