Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

The development of a project at Ennis General Hospital is an important one for Senator Daly, myself and the people of County Clare. As the Minister of State will be aware, the hospital was awarded a project, the cost of provision of which is €20.9 million, in recent years and it is now at the various stages of progress towards construction. There appear to be some delays in its advancement. The delays are of concern to all of us and in particular to the people of County Clare. It is welcome that the project was given the green light and funding for it was sanctioned, for which I thank the Minister of State and all those involved in the Department of Health and Children. Notwithstanding that, it is incumbent on all of us to ensure this project is brought to fruition in as timely as manner as possible.

In the early stage of the timescale scheduled for the implementation and roll-out of this project, it was expected that the project team would be in a position to apply for planning permission to Ennis Town Council around the end of June of this year. Unfortunately, that did not happen. I understand there is a phase two report, which the HSE indicated to Senator Daly and me last week would be signed without delay, but up until yesterday no signature was appended to that document and that has slowed down progress on the project. Notwithstanding that, difficulties have been associated with the various phases. There seems to be a sequential approach to dealing with the various stages rather than carrying out some of the work in parallel.

I am not a project management expert and I do not propose to lecture the HSE on how it should do its work but it seems ludicrous that from the time it obtains a signature to this document it will take another seven or eight weeks to prepare the more detailed design work necessary for the planning application. That work should be done now while the HSE is waiting for the document to be signed. I understand from the people involved that no further resources can be committed to the consultants until such time as this signature is obtained.

This delay is of particular concern to those of us who deal with the people of the County Clare on a daily basis. There are those who say the project will never take off or be completed. It is difficult on an ongoing basis to try to prove the opposite will be the case. It is important that the necessary steps are taken, that the timescales set for work are met and that the necessary impetus exists in the HSE to deliver this project without delay.

It is critical that we have the kind of medical facilities that the county needs. The population in the county is increasing and we need those medical facilities as soon as possible. We also need to ensure there is a continuation of the 24-hour accident and emergency service, which is working extremely well.