Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to this important debate on the capital plan, the HSE and health services. I note his opening statement contained a commitment to continued capital investment in our capital health infrastructure. He mentioned an increase of over 165% in the next ten years on the previous ten years. That is a substantial commitment. We need to see the various projects progressing.

I acknowledge the issues on the ground at the national children's hospital around the building, which must be listened to. Despite the issues and the controversies around cost overruns we are all agreed that it is in the best interests of the country and its sick children that the hospital proceeds with haste. It has been kicked about for many years until the Government and the Minister bit the bullet and moved it on. It is critical. It will be world-leading infrastructure. It is a substantial site with multidisciplinary care for sick children and it will have to progress.

The Minister referred to some regional projects. I will focus on some in the south east and Waterford. It is important that we acknowledge progress where it is made. There have been capital projects in my own area including the new primary care centres. One was built and is open at St. Otteran's in Waterford city, another is built and due to open in coming weeks in Dungarvan and another on the border of Waterford and Carrick-on-Suir which serves the people in that area. A further primary care centre is at advanced planning stage for Ferrybank on the outskirts of Waterford city and there is another in Lismore in west Waterford where expressions of interest have been sought. This is vital infrastructure in our communities across both urban and rural areas. I commend the Minister on advancing these projects. I know there are challenges in getting the teams and staffing but the Minister is advancing them. He needs to be supported in that and I acknowledge the progress in the area because the communities will benefit from enhanced primary care when these centres open.

I also acknowledge the new state-of-the-art emergency department which opened at University Hospital Waterford some years ago. That often goes under the radar. It is a top of the range trauma centre. The new Dunmore wing is a five storey block which has been built and handed over to the HSE. Plans are afoot to move in wards and staff. The Minister recently announced that a new hospice will be open there in the new year. These are all significant advances during very difficult times and I want to acknowledge them.

The big controversy in the south east is that of 24-7 cardiac care. The Minister decided to provide funding for a second cath lab at University Hospital Waterford. We cannot have 24-7 care without a second cath lab. I acknowledge the work of the Oireachtas Members and, indeed, Members from the south east who have worked with the Minister in delivering on this. I welcome that the planning application is to be complete by year end. I look forward to the construction of this critical infrastructure in the next year. The new mortuary in University Hospital Waterford will go into construction by year end. This has been another cause for controversy but the Department and Minister have responded and the HSE is now at a very advanced stage in tendering. We hope that construction will start there by year end. People mentioned acute hospitals and waiting lists. Unless we have more community beds, waiting lists will not reduce. There is more positive news in the pipeline with a 100-bed community nursing unit for Waterford city at St. Patrick's hospital and a 95-bed community nursing unit in Dungarvan for west Waterford is now going to design. These projects are critical. The roadmap is there for them to be designed and built. All that we await is their construction. It is good to see these projects advancing.

Finally, I raise facilities for children with both physical and intellectual challenges and disabilities. In Waterford and the south east, children attend the Sacred Heart unit in the heart of Waterford city which was built in 1974. It is not fit for purpose. It urgently needs a new facility. The good news is that there is a great charitable organisation called Touching Hearts which is very active on the ground campaigning and fundraising. Is it putting its money where its mouth is to build a new facility?It is working with the HSE and its objective is to build a new facility on the grounds of St. Otteran's hospital, which is next to the new primary care centre. The business plan has been put together, the groundwork has been done and all the jigsaw pieces are in place. We now need it to be included in the 2020 capital plan. These people deserve and need help. It will benefit both the children and their families, and will provide a whole suite of facilities for existing HSE staff who currently work in substandard facilities. This will respond to their needs and provide an excellent facility. Touching Hearts is standing up and is willing to deliver, but it needs support. The HSE has approved this project, and funding needs to be in place for next year in order that it can get under way. I look forward to the Minister's response.