Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State and thank Senator Kitt for sharing time. I endorse what Senator Kitt has said. The rumour in east Galway as a result of statements by a particular councillor has brought uncertainty to the issue, particularly in the case of Tuam where the proposal to sell off six acres of land would eliminate the possibility of ever providing a much needed health facility in the town of Tuam. As a member of the Western Health Board at the time I was part of a delegation to the then Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, which encouraged him to purchase the old Grove Hospital when it was being vacated by the nuns. He subsequently purchased the property. Everybody looked forward to having a new service provided in Tuam to serve north Galway, south Mayo and north Roscommon.

Will the Minister of State clarify if the statement issued by Councillor Cannon is true? The statement indicated that the Taoiseach had directed the sale of lands in Tuam, Ballinasloe and Portumna. The lands in Portumna do not belong to the Health Service Executive, but it had acquired them on the basis that it had a facility on them for many years. While other agencies used the land, it is the land of the old workhouse. A group in Portumna has gone a long way in developing plans for this disused facility over the years. I would hate its plans to be laid aside through the sale to a developer.

As Senator Kitt has said, in Ballinasloe approximately 32 acres of lands adjoining St. Brigid's Hospital are to be sold. Owing to the new proposal for the provision of new psychiatric services adjacent to Portiuncula there are excess lands in Ballinasloe. However, I am sure they could be put to good use for other health facilities in the area. In the case of Tuam it is unacceptable that the hard work by so many people over the years would be cast aside. These six acres of prime land in the middle of the town are ideally suited for the development of the community hospital as promised by the Taoiseach in 2002. We all welcomed that promise and we continue to hope that nobody would interfere with the plan so that it can become a reality.