Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We did sort it out.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, and congratulate her on her appointment. That said, I was expecting the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to be here. I know the Cathaoirleach and the Leader cannot dictate this, but I would like assurances that when a matter goes to the Minster with responsibility for the overall situation, he should be here unless there is good reason for him not being present. It is not fair to send new Ministers of State into this House on issues such as this when they are not in a position to give a definitive response to any supplementary question. That said, I welcome the Minister of State and wish her a successful career in the Department.I was there for a period and I hope that she receives proper delegation of authority and responsibility, delegated and signed by the Minister, unlike in the past when no delegations were made. Ministers had full responsibility and did not delegate any responsibility to Ministers of State. That is very important and all Ministers of State should insist on that and have their delegated responsibilities signed off and approved by the Government.

I raise the issue of the withdrawal of approximately €8 million for a rehabilitation unit at Roscommon University Hospital. In a statement published in the Roscommon People on 3 June 2016, Dr. Gerry O'Mara, a consultant geriatrician at the hospital stated, "I believe that if this project does not go ahead, this hospital will eventually lose its inpatient beds and be allowed to wither."

It was announced in May 2015 that the Health Service Executive, HSE, had approved €7.85 million to build a ten-bed unit which would operate as a satellite centre for the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire. Now the HSE has stated that due to funding constraints and competing priorities, no funding can be allocated to this project in 2016. The executive confirmed that funding for the unit was included in the 2016-21 capital programme and that it was not intended to commence this project until later in that programme.

Roscommon lost its year-round, 24-hour accident and emergency unit. By way of compensation it gained a new endoscopy unit which has been partially opened and is very welcome. However, the loss of the accident and emergency department was a disaster for Roscommon University Hospital and represents a broken promise by the Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, and the former Minister for Health, Senator James Reilly. That promise, made prior to the general election of 2011, resulted in a reward of two seats for Fine Gael in the constituency of Roscommon-South Leitrim. It is most regrettable that the accident and emergency department is now being pushed aside completely and was not included in the new programme for Government. The restoration of the accident and emergency service at Roscommon's acute hospital has been sacrificed for seats at Cabinet and other positions. The people of Roscommon will never forgive or forget those who set out to destroy the future of Roscommon University Hospital. I have stood by that hospital through thick and thin. During my period in office, we held on to the accident and emergency department. Accident and emergency departments are at the heart of any hospital, maintaining a throughput of patients. We need to ensure that we restore the accident and emergency service at Roscommon University Hospital. I commend those people who have protested every Saturday, in all weathers, at the loss of the accident and emergency unit in 2011.