Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to come here to give the reply on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Daly. I will focus on the value-for-money element. There is no value for money in having a facility that cost €8 million with half of it empty for six years. While the Minister of State pointed out that no suitable candidates were recruited at the time, the real issue lies with the terms and conditions the HSE is offering staff. This is not just an issue for Kenmare or Kerry, but is nationwide. In talking about value for money, agency nurses are being brought in at a cost of hundreds of millions of euro per annum to fill the void in the hospital services. The terms and conditions for nursing staff is the problem for Kenmare community hospital.

People in Dingle are being sent outside the peninsula. A 90 year old woman cannot be cared for in her local community because the beds are not opened. The beds are not opened because the nurses are not hired. The nurses are not hired because the terms and conditions are not as they should be. Britain, Australia and other countries are benefiting from the nurses we are training but not willing to pay adequately. That will continue and I will be back here in six months, but hopefully not asking the same question and getting the same answer. I again thank the Minister of State for coming to the House.