Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. On a side issue, I compliment him on his appearance on "The Late Late Show". It looked like a very enjoyable one for him.

As the Minister will be aware, the background to this debate is the withdrawal by HIQA of the registration of St. Patrick’s hospital in Carrick-on-Shannon. This decision, which was made amid great controversy, received a negative reaction from the staff and supporters of St. Patrick’s hospital, particularly regarding the manner in which it happened. However, my understanding now is that steps are afoot to improve the situation at the hospital to comply with HIQA regulations. I also understand that the imminent opening of a new 20-bed primary care centre in Ballinamore, County Leitrim, which will result in the transfer of 20 patients from St. Patrick’s hospital to Ballinamore, will go a long way towards compliance. The view of the HSE north west is that St. Patrick’s hospital will be re-registered in a short space of time. That is the background and context to this debate.

The HSE has made an application for funding for the construction of a new 90-bed state-of-the-art unit on lands adjacent to St. Patrick’s Hospital that have been acquired. My understanding is that plans and proposals are at a very advanced stage and that a commitment from the Minister and the Department to fund the new facility is all that is required now. I am sure the Minister will confirm that or clarify the situation.

I might put it on the record that St. Patrick’s hospital was originally a Famine workhouse. As it has been there since 1841, plainly it is not fit for purpose. While I appreciate that there are similar establishments across the country with a similar history, I would like to think that the St. Patrick’s hospital facility is rather unique in this regard. It is a great tribute to the doctors, nurses and general staff of the hospital that they have maintained it to the highest possible standard.

Despite the conclusions of the HIQA report, the general view of the public and particularly of family relatives of those who are cared for at St. Patrick’s hospital is that it is a facility of the highest standard and that the commitment of the nursing staff and doctors is unrivalled. It is for that reason that the HIQA decision caused a great deal of local anger and was seen as an unfair portrayal of an institution that has struggled to maintain those high standards in the face of serious difficulties for a long period of time.

As I said at the outset, it looks like this particular situation is going to be resolved in the short term. I hope that will happen. The main purpose of my contribution is to plead with the Minister to provide the necessary funding so that the new state-of-the-art facility in the capital town of County Leitrim can go ahead forthwith.It is vitally important that such a facility be located in the county and I would hate to think anything would endanger the future of such a facility and that it would be due to lack of funding, given that all the t's have been crossed and the i's dotted in that regard.