Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Feeney for sharing her time. I also thank the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Seán Power. I want to contribute to this debate because some months ago, I raised an issue with the Minister of State in the House concerning a minor item which is of great importance to me and the people of Tuam. I refer to the provision of funding for two beds for respite or palliative care in Tuam. The background to this matter is that two beds were available in the Bon Secours Hospital in Tuam, known as the Grove Hospital, which unfortunately closed in April 2001. In addition to losing the hospital, we lost the two palliative care beds. The Tuam Cancer Care Committee, a hard-working voluntary organisation, was disappointed, as was I, when this project suffered due to the hospital's closure.

When I raised this issue with the Minister of State some months ago, I made the point that the then Western Health Board spent €450,000 in capital expenditure on renovations to Áras Mhuire, a new building, to facilitate the two-bed unit. In addition, 2.2 staff were sanctioned by the health board. However, the Irish Nurses Organisation was unhappy with the staffing level and sought an increase to 5.5 staff, to ensure an adequate quality of care for patients at Áras Mhuire, including the two-bed unit. I understand that the sum of €150,000 in additional funding per annum was sought for staffing. The Minister of State may recall that I mentioned an anonymous donation of €100,000, which would have been made available to fund these two beds.

My speech will probably differ from the one which I originally intended to make because approximately one hour ago, I received an e-mail from the Department of Health and Children to the effect that this morning, the Tánaiste made a speech noting the availability of a sum of €9 million in funding for specialist palliative care. Certain projects were mentioned, such as Blackrock Hospice, under the management of Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross, Milford Hospice and St. Francis's Hospice in Raheny. I noted with interest that €1 million has been designated for the midlands and western region. I hope that Tuam is included in that figure, because palliative care is badly needed in Tuam and the north-east Galway area. As I told the Minister of State, if the then health board intended to spend €450,000 in capital expenditure to upgrade Áras Mhuire and to equip the two-bed unit, it is important to provide an additional €150,000. I hope it is included in the sum of €1 million mentioned by the Tánaiste.

I wish to make a brief comment in respect of BreastCheck. I want to pay tribute to Senator Cox, who worked extremely hard in starting the BreastCheck campaign in the west of Ireland. Along with many members of voluntary organisations, she collected hundreds of petitions and presented them to the Tánaiste and to the Department of Health and Children. Senator Cox was also active in this regard during the course of the last Seanad, as she was in respect of child care. I do not state this simply to wear the county colours, as I know she and her committee worked hard. I am glad we have made some progress in terms of providing BreastCheck in the west of Ireland. I again thank the Minister of State and I hope he will be able to tell me that the palliative care programme includes funding for Tuam.