Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

It is nice to see the Minister of State again. I was not allowed to raise this issue on the Adjournment yesterday but I believe there has been some good news on it. I will not say I was the catalyst for it as a result of raising it yesterday as I believe it was in the public capital programme. I am pleased there has been some positive news because I have consistently raised this issue. I raised it when I was a Member of the Dáil and I have raised it on the Adjournment in the Seanad on successive occasions.

In 2002 a project team considered a 12-bedroom unit for the elderly mentally infirm in St. Ita's Hospital in Newcastle West. I believed it was a desirable proposal because it was wrong that doors in wards in St. Ita's Hospital, which does tremendous work, had to be locked to keep people from wandering off. I and the staff of the hospital, who do great work, could see the necessity for this unit.

Since 2000 I have raised this issue and have been told about progress in the Department which seemed to be very slow. I watched a succession of Ministers visit the constituency. If they came to Newcastle West, St. Ita's Hospital was naturally part of the tour. The former Ministers for Health and Children, Deputies Cowen and Martin, visited the hospital as did the Taoiseach prior to the last general election. The Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, visited as did his predecessor, Deputy Callely. I am sure others visited as well who I could not monitor. I would not always be consulted about such visits.