Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Chair for allowing me to raise the issue of the health campus for Tuam, County Galway. For many years the Bon Secours order had a hospital in Tuam, known locally as the Grove hospital. It was very disappointing that it was sold some years ago. I was thankful that the former Western Health Board bought not only the hospital but also the surrounding property from the Bon Secours sisters. I pay tribute to them for their work in Tuam over many years.

The former Western Health Board acted quickly not only in calling for the purchase of the property by the health board and for funding from the Government, but also in sending a design brief to the Department in October 2002. The brief envisaged not only a community hospital to replace the existing hospital but also an Alzheimer's unit, a child care training centre, a primary care unit and an ambulance base. The community in north Galway and I are very anxious for approval to be given by the Department to proceed to the design stage. With such a large number of projects involved, it would be very useful if even one part of the project could be expedited.

There is no ambulance base in north Galway at present, which is quite appalling. This, combined with many complaints regarding the out-of-hours doctor service, means people feel very isolated if they are ill, particularly in the evening or at night. I hope progress is made on the ambulance unit.

The issue of the primary care unit was very much in the news a year ago. We were in competition with Erris in County Mayo regarding the location of such a unit. It was finally located in Erris and north Galway lost out. Therefore, it is very important that the primary care unit be very much at the centre of the submission on the design brief.

The health campus, particularly the hospital, not only proposes to include north Galway but also south Mayo and part of west Roscommon. It is vital that a response be made on this matter. I know the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, has met many community groups, the town council in Tuam and other deputations in respect of the hospital. Since there are such a large number of issues associated with the health campus, I hope the Minister of State will at least ensure that progress is made in respect of some of them.

An ambulance service is very important for Tuam and the north Galway area. Most of the GPs who work in the area know this to be true and I have discussed it with them. I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. The submission regarding the design brief has been with the Department since October 2002, which is over two and a half years. I hope I can report progress to the people of north Galway who have been advocating the development in question for some years.