Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State. Will the Minister for Health and Children provide funding for the Health Service Executive western area for the provision of a health and day care centre on the site of the old County Galway Vocational Education Committee building at Gort, County Galway? Will she indicate whether funding was sought for this project by the former health board? The health centre in Gort comprises a small house, utilised by the health service over the years, which is located outside the town on the N18 to Ennis. A general practitioner, public health nurse, secretary and community welfare officer operate from these premises. It is an inadequate facility operating to Third World standards.

When most local people hear the Minister talking about world class services, they want her to visit Gort to see how far the State is from providing proper health services in the town. A site was offered to the former health board by the vocational education committee when the school there was closed. It is ideally located and has ample space for expansion. The committee, as of last Monday, had the offer on hold waiting for the HSE to take it up. The Minister claims the priority is primary health care services but Gort represents an ideal opportunity to provide such services to the many people in the west who need them. People are wasting their time attending University College Hospital, Galway, because they will be put on a trolley.

It is unforgivable that the premises at Gort are inaccessible for people with disabilities. If the Minister of State and his Department can stand over such conditions indefinitely, questions must be asked about how serious the Minister of State and his senior ministerial colleague are about reform of the health service. The building contains one toilet, which is locked at all times except on demand. If a health and safety inspection was carried out on the building, it would be closed and the people of Gort would have to go without its services but that cannot happen.

A site for a day care centre has been offered. Currently, staff provide day care facilities in another premises in the town, which are inadequate and not of the required quality. However, the staff are determined to continue serving the people dependent on them. Promises were made in the past by various Ministers. For example, the Taoiseach visited Gort prior to the last general election. He said the provision of premises would not be a problem and it would be built in a short time because the Government intended to upgrade primary health care services throughout the State. However, nothing has happened.

I contacted the Galway VEC last Monday to ascertain whether the offer stands regarding the premises. The VEC does not sell its premises and this site is available on a long-term lease to the HSE to provide adequate facilities in Gort. The Department has received a request for funding to upgrade the health services and to provide a day care centre at Gort. I hope this will be acted upon as a matter of urgency.