Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State again. I am delighted that the Government is fully committed to upgrading the Sacred Heart nursing home. The Minister of State has said that the "project is at the appraisal stage". He mentioned that the various stages before the construction stage include "appraisal, project brief, design feasibility [and] review of costing estimates". I have sat in on the three stages that have happened at the Sacred Heart's sister facility at Roscommon County Hospital. It has taken almost four years for the endoscopy building at the hospital, which is now providing excellent facilities in Roscommon, to get up and running. I sat in from the appraisal stage to the design stage. I thank the management and staff of the hospital. Along with doing their own significant work, they were able to make an input into the development of the endoscopy unit. As a result, the hospital now has significant accreditation as a working hospital. The input of hospital management and staff enabled them to determine the best possible result. I would like to think the knowledge and endeavours of the staff of the Sacred Heart home will be included in the appraisal stage because it is absolutely vital. I am delighted that this project is going ahead. I do not think people fully realise how much work goes on during the appraisal, project brief and design stages. It is a long and drawn-out process. It has to include all the stakeholders, including the staff, to ensure we get the best possible result. I thank the Minister of State again. I wish him well.