John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Ar nós mo chomhghleacaí, cuirim fáilte roimh an deis an t-ábhar seo a ardú agus ceist na leapacha in Áras Mhic Dara a phlé anseo anocht. Má fhaigheann sé deis, molaim don Aire Stáit an tuairisc is déanaí ó HIQA ar Áras Mhic Dara a léamh. Taispeánann sé cé chomh hard is atá an caighdeán cúraim san ionad. Is aoibhinn an rud é sin d'éinne a bhfuil duine dá chlann san ionad seo. Táimid ag brath ar an bhfoireann ansin agus ar na daoine ar fad atá ag obair ann.

If the Minister of State gets the opportunity, he should read the most recent HIQA report on Áras Mhic Dara. It highlights the good management and the care the residents are getting there. Anybody who has a loved one in the centre can rest assured that he or she is getting a very high quality of care. However, we have to ponder why there are nine beds empty in the facility on an ongoing basis. Last month, I asked the Department of Health if it could outline the increased number of community nursing beds planned for County Galway. The answer I got was that a business plan was being submitted from older person's services to address the provision of additional beds in a number of community nursing units. This response referred to an additional nine beds for Merlin Park, an additional 12 beds for Clifden District Hospital, an additional five beds for the community nursing unit in Tuam, eight beds for St. Brendan's Community Nursing Unit in Loughrea, six beds for Ballinasloe Community Nursing Unit and an additional nine beds for Áras Mhic Dara.

However, there is no point in telling us 49 additional beds are coming on stream if we cannot be guaranteed we can recruit the staff to make sure they can be open for the patients who need them. In a general sense, we have to review and look at the recruitment and retention of nursing staff in the country. I understand there is a process in train to staff these beds but it has been difficult to complete.

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