Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to discuss another excellent project for Roscommon County Hospital and the west. The medical rehabilitation unit is one of three major capital developments planned at Roscommon hospital. The other two are an endoscopy unit, which is open and extremely busy, and a hospice care centre for which plans are progressing well. These three projects were agreed in 2011 between the then Minister, former Deputy and now Senator James Reilly, and the hospital's management and consultants along with the air ambulance unit after the downgrading of the emergency department. I am delighted that the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire has supported the development of regional rehabilitation services, including this €7.85 million project proposed for Roscommon hospital. I understand that people from the National Rehabilitation Hospital have travelled to Roscommon hospital for meetings to progress the design aspect of the project.

There is a clear demand for such as facility in the west. Almost a quarter of patients treated in the National Rehabilitation Hospital normally reside in the HSE west region which currently lacks a dedicated rehabilitation unit. The National Rehabilitation Hospital is the only comprehensive rehabilitation facility in the Republic of Ireland for patients with physical and cognitive impairments. The unit planned for Roscommon will operate as a satellite centre under the auspices of the National Rehabilitation Hospital and relieve pressure on existing services. It will also allow patients to be treated in their own communities.

The project will initially develop a ten-bed inpatient ward accommodation on a greenfield site on the Roscommon hospice campus. It is expected that another ten beds will be introduced on a phased basis. Geographically, Roscommon hospital is ideally located for this development as it is so central between the west and Dublin. I was delighted that the project took a significant step forward more than a year ago when the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, confirmed approval €1.5 million funding for planning at the official opening of the €6 million endoscopy unit at Roscommon hospital. I seek an update on this project. Once the rehabilitation unit becomes fully operational, it will create an initial 25 jobs and up to 50 jobs when all phases are complete. These jobs are in addition to those created during the construction phase. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply.