Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to discuss another excellent project for Roscommon County Hospital and the west. The medical rehabilitation unit is one of three major capital developments planned at Roscommon hospital. The other two are an endoscopy unit, which is open and extremely busy, and a hospice care centre for which plans are progressing well. These three projects were agreed in 2011 between the then Minister, former Deputy and now Senator James Reilly, and the hospital's management and consultants along with the air ambulance unit after the downgrading of the emergency department. I am delighted that the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire has supported the development of regional rehabilitation services, including this €7.85 million project proposed for Roscommon hospital. I understand that people from the National Rehabilitation Hospital have travelled to Roscommon hospital for meetings to progress the design aspect of the project.

There is a clear demand for such as facility in the west. Almost a quarter of patients treated in the National Rehabilitation Hospital normally reside in the HSE west region which currently lacks a dedicated rehabilitation unit. The National Rehabilitation Hospital is the only comprehensive rehabilitation facility in the Republic of Ireland for patients with physical and cognitive impairments. The unit planned for Roscommon will operate as a satellite centre under the auspices of the National Rehabilitation Hospital and relieve pressure on existing services. It will also allow patients to be treated in their own communities.

The project will initially develop a ten-bed inpatient ward accommodation on a greenfield site on the Roscommon hospice campus. It is expected that another ten beds will be introduced on a phased basis. Geographically, Roscommon hospital is ideally located for this development as it is so central between the west and Dublin. I was delighted that the project took a significant step forward more than a year ago when the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, confirmed approval €1.5 million funding for planning at the official opening of the €6 million endoscopy unit at Roscommon hospital. I seek an update on this project. Once the rehabilitation unit becomes fully operational, it will create an initial 25 jobs and up to 50 jobs when all phases are complete. These jobs are in addition to those created during the construction phase. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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It is as though Santa Claus is coming to Roscommon hospital.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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After the National Rehabilitation Hospital.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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A Programme for a Partnership Government places a particular focus on a number of key programmes and strategies, including publishing a plan for advancing neurorehabilitation services in the community. The national policy and strategy for the provision of neurorehabilitation services in Ireland for 2011 to 2015 made a number of recommendations for services for people with rehabilitation needs. The strategy also covered a range of supports, including clinical, therapeutic, social, vocational and community supports for these people.

The redevelopment of the National Rehabilitation Hospital, which is under way, will be a major enhancement to rehabilitation services in the country and will have a direct and significant impact on patient recovery by providing an optimal ward and therapeutic environment for patient treatment. This will enable staff to deliver optimal quality care and treatment in a facility which affords dignity, respect and privacy to all.

Roscommon County Hospital is a model 2 hospital within the Saolta University Healthcare Group. It provides a significant range of hospital services to patients in the region, including extended day surgery, certain acute medicine services and local injuries services. It also provides a wide array of diagnostic services, including endoscopy, laboratory medicine, point of care testing and radiology, as well as specialist rehabilitation medicine and palliative care. Roscommon hospital plays an essential role as part of the Saolta Healthcare Group of hospitals and will continue to do so in the future. We know that the future growth in health care will be in the areas of chronic disease management and day surgery, diagnostics and rehabilitation. The activity levels of model 2 hospitals, such as Roscommon County Hospital, will continue to increase over the coming years as these hospitals specialise in providing these services to meet the needs of their local populations.

The spatial plan for Roscommon hospital was approved in the first quarter of 2016, and the project team comprised personnel from both the hospital-clinical side and from estates. In September 2016, the Minister, Deputy Harris, announced approval for funding to progress the development of a specialist rehabilitation unit at Roscommon hospital to design-planning stage, in association with the National Rehabilitation Hospital. The project will deliver 20 beds and therapy suite accommodation.

The HSE has advised that the procurement process for the design team is ongoing and it is expected that the team will be appointed in the first quarter of 2018. The HSE also advises that the hospital is experiencing traffic congestion and parking difficulties, for which solutions will need to be addressed as part of the planning application process for the rehabilitation unit.

Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)
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I am delighted that the procurement process for the design team is ongoing and that it is expected it will be appointed in the first quarter of 2018. This cannot happen quickly enough. I worry that sometimes when the HSE is involved there can be blockages. We must ensure that there are no blockages and that this progresses as quickly as possible.

The HSE has also advised that the hospital is experiencing traffic congestion and parking difficulties and that solutions will be addressed as part of the planning application for the rehabilitation unit. All the doomsayers over the years said Roscommon hospital would be closed. Now we have a problem with parking because the hospital is so busy. It has become a major employer. It provides employment for up to 400 people in a town of about 6,000 or 7,000. Roscommon hospital is busier and safer than ever. More than 400 people work there. My job as a public representative is about safeguarding the hospital's future and protecting local jobs and, most importantly, patient safety. Hundreds of people are alive today because of the air ambulance and what has happened in Roscommon over the past six years.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I am sure that Senator Feighan will get Senator Leyden to turn the sod.