Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown has caused considerable concern among people not only in Dublin 15 but also in County Meath, given that it is one of the main hospitals serving the southern part of that county. It has a higher profile at present because of the by-election in Dublin West. Prior to the last general election, Fine Gael and Labour Party candidates promised to protect services at the hospital. According to the Labour Party website, it promised to turn it into a world-class hospital.

In recent weeks I have been canvassing with my excellent colleague, Councillor David McGuinness, and heard first hand about people's fears about the future of the hospital. These fears are not being whipped up in the context of an election campaign, rather they are based on evidence of what is happening in the hospital. People feel betrayed by the broken promises made by the Labour Party and Fine Gael. A year ago the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, stated we were heading for a monumental disaster in the hospital, but he has been silent in regard to the latest news that there are to be 12 bed closures. Only last week the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, indicated that she was encouraged by the Minister for Health's commitment to the hospital, but major changes have since been made in terms of bed reductions. There is confusion in Dublin West and County Meath about the promises that are being broken even before the election is held. The Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, took control of the HSE directly when he appointed his own board. I welcomed his initiative because it is important that Ministers take responsibility, but it is now time to hold him accountable for what is happening in the hospital.

The Labour Party's literature explicitly claims to support the local campaign to retain services in the hospital. This is at variance with what is happening on the ground. At the very least, voters in Dublin West will not be duped in the same way as the people of Roscommon. While the Labour Party candidate is speaking about the cuts as going too far, being too deep and dangerous, we do not hear much from the Ministers concerned. I am glad the Minister for State at the Department of Health, Deputy Shortall, is in the House to outline for the people of Dublin 15 and County Meath the precise status of the hospital.

I acknowledge that there are no easy answers to funding the hospital or the health system in general. However, given the interactions in the north east between Connolly, Navan and Drogheda hospitals, changes in services in any of these hospitals will have knock-on effects. If the emergency department in Connolly Hospital is restricted or eliminated, people living in south County Meath will put pressure on Navan hospital. We are not sure if that hospital will remain open and the question, therefore, arises whether patients will have to travel to Drogheda. Serious concerns have been expressed not only by politicians but also by doctors, nurses and local residents.

My colleague, Deputy Martin, met hospital management this morning. I ask the Ministers, Deputies Burton and Varadkar, to sort this out and to provide the proper service they promised. They knew this country was in a serious financial position when they made that promise. In fact, the tax take has been larger than would have been expected when their parties' manifestos were being drawn up. An additional tax imposed by the Government - the pension levy - is raising €200 million more in revenue than is being spent on the jobs initiative. Therefore, the Government has money it did not expect to have at the time of the election. I urge it to invest that money in essential services, particularly health services, that benefit the people of this country. I would be grateful if the Minister of State could outline the exact position.