Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to stand in for the Minister, Deputy Harris. I will not give a protracted commentary on this issue, which is ongoing, but will instead focus on the National Rehabilitation Hospital, NRH, project. I attempted to raise other issues but I will respect the provision the Cathaoirleach has given me, which is to discuss the need for the Minister for Health to report progress on phase 1 of the National Rehabilitation Hospital project in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, and the commitment on the extension of phase 2 and the funding of that. That is important.

If she is in a position to do so the Minister of State might also take the opportunity to comment on the current position regarding beds in the hospital. If she does not have that information I will follow it up with the Minister later today because I have some people coming in about the matter who I believe will make a statement from this House at some point.

I draw the Minister of State's attention to the one line in the national planning framework on this particular project. Under Disability Services, it states: "Redevelopment of the National Rehabilitation Hospital and establishment of Disability Rehabilitation Centres across the country." That is the only line on that in the entire plan.

Without further ado, I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could outline how phase 1 of the project is progressing. We know the Taoiseach and the Minister visited the hospital. Deputy Maria Bailey, the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor, and the Minister of State's colleague, Deputy Seán Barrett, are keen to see this project progress, so I would like to hear what she has to say about those matters.