Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would also like to talk about a national issue, namely, rehabilitation services in Ireland. I ask the Leader if he could organise for the Minister for Health to come to the Seanad and outline the national plan for our rehabilitation services. On a number of occasions, I have raised the matter of the National Rehabilitation Hospital, NRH, on Rochestown Avenue in Dún Laoghaire. Some weeks ago, other Senators also highlighted this matter. One issue to which I wish to refer relates to the closure of 12 beds just after Christmas. We obtained an undertaking that the Minister would return to the House to explain what happened but we never heard a thing. I made contact with the NRH this week and was informed there has been no change in circumstances. The 12 beds that were closed because of resourcing issues have not been reopened. This is against a background of hundreds of patients all over the country holding up essential acute beds, which the health services say are needed to continue the roll-out of more comprehensive services. Health is becoming one of the biggest issues facing the country. While I recognise that the Minister is doing an awful lot of work, there is much that needs to be put right. Progress has to be made.

The second issue is that the NRH was meant to be the subject of a rebuilding programme. Five different health Ministers have been out there making announcements about the 120-bed unit, yet it still has not been built. There has not been one sod turned. There is a bigger debate to be had as to whether we should centralise national rehabilitation hospitals, with four or five centres of excellence across the country. How can we free up acute beds to allow that to happen? The immediate issue is to get the 12 beds open. How can we have a new hospital of 120 beds on the programme, which is to commence within weeks, if we cannot reopen 12 beds on the same campus? This raises serious questions. I would appreciate it if the Leader could arrange for the Minister to come to the House to explain the position.

I acknowledge the work of the national broadband plan. It is exciting. Although there was a great deal of negative commentary in the newspapers today, it is major progress. There will be a presentation by the Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, today in the audiovisual room and I am looking forward to hearing what he has to say. We should congratulate him and acknowledge the work he has done on the roll-out of broadband throughout the country.