Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for affording me the opportunity to raise this extremely important issue for my constituency and for the people of Wexford. This is more than just an issue, it is an ongoing saga. Overcrowding in Wexford General Hospital has caused enormous frustration, anxiety and concern for the population of Wexford, which is 120,000 people, and the greater hinterland that depends on the hospital's services.

The Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, knows that this saga has been going on for years. Particularly in the past six months, we have seen extraordinary overcrowding with more than 30 patients regularly on trolleys in the accident and emergency unit. On occasion, the accident and emergency unit has closed with ambulances being diverted to Waterford Regional Hospital. On one occasion, to my knowledge, ambulances were sent further afield when Waterford could not accept the diverted patients.

For the Minister of State's information, Waterford city is almost an hour's drive from Wexford town, and much further — up to 90 minutes drive — from parts of County Wexford. This is a critical consideration in accident and emergency cases.

The Department of Health and Children has understood this crisis for a long time. There is an agreement that Wexford General Hospital needs at least 40 additional beds. Some three years ago, it was agreed that because of the urgent nature of the case, 19 beds would be fast tracked. That was to have been done immediately. The sanction for those 19 beds was given in April 2004 by the then Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin. Unfortunately, however, since then not one jot of progress has been made.

The people of Wexford have vented their annoyance, anger and frustration in many ways. In February this year, 1,500 people attended a mass meeting in the main street of Wexford town to underscore public concern on this matter.

I want to make clear to the Minister of State what is required now. While the fast-tracked 19 beds are almost a sop, we want them now. We also want the balance of the 40 beds to be planned and sanctioned. We want a new out-patients' department to free up the space currently occupied by out patients to expand the accident and emergency unit so there will be an adequate accident and emergency service in the hospital.

I understand that, yesterday, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, announced a capital allocation. I saw a statement by the Health Service Executive today saying that Wexford General Hospital was on the list of hospitals to be funded under the €2 million to €20 million category. The people of Wexford want absolute clarity on this matter. They have waited well beyond the level of endurance, as have the staff of the hospital who have provided a service above and beyond the call of duty against insurmountable odds on occasion, particularly in the past 12 months. Clarity is required on this issue. I appeal to the Minister of State not to provide vague generalities but to be specific. When will the capital programme commence to build the 19 beds? When will the balance of the 40 beds be provided? Will the money be provided for a new outpatients' department to allow an adequate accident and emergency service to be provided in the space currently occupied by outpatients? By any criteria and objective analysis, Wexford General Hospital is a major hospital that should be able to provide a decent service to the 120,000 people of the county, in addition to the large number of visitors to the area during the summer season.

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I thank Deputy Howlin for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I am taking the debate on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney.

The debate relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Responsibility for the provision of services at Wexford General Hospital now rests with the executive.

The Department of Health and Children is aware of the pressures experienced at Wexford General Hospital. There was an increase of approximately 9% in attendances at the hospital's accident and emergency department between 2001 and 2002, a further increase of 9% between 2002 and 2003, and a 6% increase between 2003 and 2004. Overall admissions to the hospital increased up to 2004.

Capital funding for the health service is now largely provided through the HSE in line with the capital investment framework 2005-09. This amounts to €564 million in 2005, of which in excess of €250 million will be directed towards the acute sector.

Earlier today, the Tánaiste announced to the House that she has written to the HSE to convey her agreement to allow for the progression of its capital programme in 2005. The construction of an additional 19 beds at Wexford General Hospital is included in the projects approved under the current capital investment framework.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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What about the accident and emergency unit and the outpatients' department?

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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It is now a matter for the HSE to progress its capital programme as a quickly as possible. The Department will continue to support the executive in its efforts to improve the delivery of accident and emergency services generally and at Wexford General Hospital.

I do not accept the Deputy's contention that there is an ongoing crisis at Wexford General Hospital. There are strains and pressures, and from time to time patients have been awaiting admission to the accident and emergency department, but not on an ongoing basis.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That is not true.

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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We have examined the figures and that is what we found.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Minister of State should come and talk to the staff.

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The additional capacity will undoubtedly alleviate service issues generally at Wexford General Hospital. In the meantime, the results of the audit of processes to be undertaken in ten hospitals nationally this summer can also be applied to hospitals like Wexford General Hospital to improve services to patients in accident and emergency departments.

The Tánaiste's ten-point plan has been endorsed by the IMO. Provision of additional capacity within the health services has comprehensive support and we are taking a full-systems approach to addressing the service issues in accident and emergency departments.