Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I, as a Minister of State, have been on the record, working with the Minister for Health, saying that I do not want to see any more public capacity close at any level. Upcoming projects in Galway include a new 60-bed unit in Merlin Park, an increase in capacity on the 25 already there, and a 40-bed unit in St. Anne's in Clifden. It was announced previously but progress is being made. The Deputy will know that recently the Helen and Joe O'Toole community nursing unit in Tuam was opened with 50 beds. It is a fantastic facility and residents will be moving into it shortly. We must also note that there were 12 short-stay beds at Clifden District Hospital. Even though older people need long-stay beds under the fair deal, step-down, transitional and respite beds are also important. I will come back to the Deputy's question about Aperee in my next response.

See this speech in context