John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

He has had the report on his desk since before last Christmas. Six months is a long time to consider this issue. The hospitals are not even running at the level for which HIQA has cleared them. For example, the Abbeyleix facility only has 22 patients. The community fears that moves are being taken to close it by stealth, to wear people down and to procrastinate. I urge the Minister of State to take a message to the Minister - the people of Abbeyleix, Shaen and County Laois in general are waiting anxiously for a decision. We hope that "shortly" means soon.