Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

When St. Brigid's Hospital in Carrick-on-Suir was closed, the people of Carrick-on-Suir were shocked. They were also promised that a primary care centre would become a hub for chronic disease management. A centre of excellence was promised. Instead, we are now seeing the removal of vital services like the diabetic clinic and the cardiology care from the primary care centre, all because of reports of a lack of space. At the time, the Taoiseach met the former Deputy, Jackie Cahill, and Councillor Kieran Bourke, and promised the hospital would be reopened as a community hospital. That did not happen. The people of Carrick-on-Suir have lost their beloved hospital and have been left with more and more broken promises. It appears the HSE can do what it wants, there is no accountability and its word means nothing. I ask the Taoiseach for immediate clarity on what steps will be taken to restore these vital services locally. Will an additional modular space be provided if there is not space, although I believe there is? Can we have a full audit into the use of St. Brigid's Hospital and the primary care centre to make sure it is not being used by officials rather than services?

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