Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise today to raise two matters. First, I welcome that nine primary schools in Limerick have been accepted into the Creative Schools initiative, namely, Castleconnell National School, Donoughmore National School, Presentation Primary School, Limerick city, Scoil An Spioraid Naoimh, Scoil Áine Naofa, St. Canice's Special School, St. Clement's College, Thomond Primary School and Courtenay School, Newcastle West. They will receive a grant for a creative professional who will work with them and implement their bespoke creative school plan. This is most welcome. Creative Schools is a wonderful initiative. I thank the Arts Council for this programme. More than 200 schools right across the country have been accepted into the programme.

The last issue I wish to raise is the conflicting reports on hospitals for the mid-west. A report was issued last week by Deloitte around the hospital in Limerick where it was suggested that extra beds were required for the mid-west. As we know, the shortage of beds and the overcrowding in the hospital are issues that I constantly raise in the House. Today the hospital is overcrowded again. In the Dáil, the Taoiseach acknowledged the fact that the extra beds were needed and he also acknowledged the findings of the report. Yet, the Minister for Health came out yesterday to say that there will be no elective hospital in the mid-west. It is most disappointing that on the one hand the leader of our country and of the Government has acknowledged the report and the findings of the report with regard to an elective hospital, and then the Minister for Health has given a conflicting report. We really need to get to the bottom of this. I call for a debate on the future of healthcare in the mid-west region.