Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

As the House will be aware in January 2017 12 beds at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire were closed. Despite numerous visits to the Seanad by the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities, Deputy Finian McGrath, and many promises and commitments to reopen these beds, I was informed by officials at the hospital today that six of these beds have not yet been reopened. The constant excuses from the HSE, the directors and board of management of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire, the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, are very disappointing.

I have written to the Taoiseach on the matter and I have had a response from him to the effect that he has referred it to the Minister for Health. I have also written to the Minister for Health and I have tried to make contact with him in the last two weeks. While I accept and respect that he is a busy man, particularly at this time in the context of the many other issues arising, I still have not received a full explanation as to what is happening. I ask the Leader to use his good offices to find out what is happening. While I will have to respect what ultimately the Minister will have to say, the problem is that I cannot get the accountability that is required. I cannot identify the person who has responsibility for the reopening of these beds such that the blame for their not being reopened can be laid on the shoulders of that person. However, this is not about blame, but about reopening these six beds at a time when many hundreds of patients are waiting in acute beds in this country trying to access these services. It is critical they are reopened.

We cannot talk about reform of our health service and assisting people if we cannot even reopen beds. I ask the Leader to assist me in getting a commitment to the reopening of these beds. Given these commitments were made in this House, it is important a Minister of Minister of State comes to the House to explain when the remaining six of the 12 beds closed in January 2017 will be reopened.