Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

Let us look at trauma. I appreciate that the Minister is busy and must leave and I appreciate his attendance. There are a number of questions I wanted to ask about Nenagh Hospital and I hope to get answers. What will be the status of A&E there? Will it be a nurse-led A&E? Will it be a 9 o'clock to 5 o'clock or 24-hour service? What will one get there? Emergency and trauma services will go. If there is a major accident on the Nenagh bypass, the victims will presumably have to go to Limerick. Patients cannot be brought to Nenagh Hospital to be stabilised before going to Limerick.

I want to be clear on this. We are told that the day services in Nenagh will be increased, with which I am delighted. What specialist services will come to Nenagh? When will consultants be available there? My understanding is they will be available only for day services. What will happen to Nenagh's acute beds? I presume they will be closed, after which acute hospital services will then be available only in Limerick.