David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I have raised this issue three times on the Adjournment, including with the Minister of State as far back as 2011. We have, therefore, discussed the issue many times and the Minister of State will be aware of the background. Commitments were given by the previous Government in 2011 not only to build a palliative care unit but also a full oncology unit on the grounds of Waterford Regional Hospital, which would have provide a multidisciplinary unit covering all modalities of cancer care under one roof. It was estimated at the time that it would cost approximately €70 million. Capital funding was not available but the Government gave a commitment to at least proceed with the palliative care unit through matching funding from the local hospice and the local community.

I am seeking an update about the project. I accept that members of all parties and none would like this project to be built as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the south east is one of the few areas that does not have a dedicated specialist palliative care unit. There are four community home care specialist palliative care teams with consultant leads but while the teams do fantastic work, they need in-house facilities for those who cannot be cared for at home. The population of counties Cork and Kerry is 510,000 but the area has 24 specialist palliative care beds while the south east with a population of 463,000 has access to two inpatient beds. Some 1,300 patients in the area are seen by the specialist community teams with 850 patients seen in acute hospitals. I am sure they receive fantastic care and treatment.

We need this palliative care unit. Advances were made and there seemed to be progress on the previous occasion I raised the issue but the project has still not been finalised. Will the Minister of State update the House on the current position and how quickly this will be delivered?