Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

Last week, the Government made one of its most embarrassing mistakes in its eight year record, which is some achievement, when the Minister for Health and Children finally announced the €564 million capital programme for hospitals throughout the country. In the meantime, St. Luke's hospital, Kilkenny, was being praised at the Cabinet table for having managed its limited resources so well that there were no patients on trolleys. It was cited as a model hospital because of the way it liaises with its local GPs and uses its minor injuries and accident and emergency units and outpatients department. It is worth putting on the record that the accident and emergency unit in the hospital was formerly a laundry room and there is currently no fire exit. It was condemned in the health and safety audit.

There is no canteen for visitors in the hospital, which might sound a small matter, but it is a significant issue, particularly considering that St. Luke's hospital, Kilkenny, services an area from Carlow to south Kilkenny. As people must travel quite a distance to the hospital, there should be a canteen facility where patients could take a break when relatives visit them. These people could visit the canteen for a cup of tea or refreshments.

Last Wednesday, when the programme was finally announced, I went through the list three times only to find that St. Luke's hospital got nothing. I even checked with a Government Deputy to see did I miss something. To make matters worse, the day after announcing funding of €564 million, we learned that the Tánaiste was visiting the one hospital in the country that received nothing. It is worth noting that many hospitals received two or three allocations for different projects. I am not sure who is the Tánaiste's programme manager, but someone tried to make her look stupid. With friends like that, who needs enemies? The one hospital she visited the day after announcing a €564 million capital funding programme received nothing the previous day.

I must compliment the Tánaiste on visiting Kilkenny, because she displayed much bravery in doing so. Most Ministers would have found a reason not to visit the hospital. She was irate because of what happened and, as far as I am aware, she promised to upgrade the accident and emergency unit, the outpatients department and there is a possibility that a stroke unit will be established, even though this has not been clarified. I hope the Minister of State will clarify exactly what St. Luke's Hospital will receive.

This issue was a front page story today in the Kilkenny People. The editorial refers to a victory for St. Luke's and the editor speaks about the Minister, Deputy Harney, walking into a booby trap last week. The question must be asked, why was St. Luke's omitted in the first instance? We were lucky that by pure coincidence, the Tánaiste happened to be visiting St. Luke's the following day. The question remains, had the Tánaiste not been visiting St. Luke's, what would be the situation this week? It worked in her favour that she happened to be visiting the hospital thatday.

It is my view that some official within the HSE, who had close ties to Waterford Regional Hospital, was doing his utmost to ensure that St. Luke's did not get its fair share of the cake. I have made a freedom of information request, which I will pursue further. I will name the individual in the House when I have proof.

The Minister, Deputy Harney, was very vague about the future of St. Luke's in terms of the Hanly report. As far as I understand, the accident and emergency unit in St. Luke's could be downgraded as a result of the Hanly report. Perhaps the Minister of State will clarify the situation tonight. He might also refer to the plan that consultants will come to Carlow and save patients travelling from Carlow to Kilkenny by increasing the outpatient clinics. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply, as do many other people in Carlow and Kilkenny.