Bandon Community Hospital staffing
Michael Collins says Bandon Community Hospital has been refurbished but remains under-staffed, leaving older people without respite care. The Taoiseach says it sounds more like a topical issue and the Minister of State, Jim Daly, adds that staffing is part of a Workplace Relations Commission dispute.
I refer to the programme for Government at page 85 on care for elderly. In Leaders' Questions three weeks ago, I asked the Taoiseach about Bandon Community Hospital, a question he referred back to the Minister for Health, from whom I got no answer. Major works were completed in Bandon Community Hospital last August. Although December is approaching, the HSE has not adequately staffed the hospital, thereby leaving the elderly without respite care in the Bandon area. The Friends of Bandon Community Hospital have collected tens of thousands of euro from the public. It is a major disappointment to all to see this state-of-the-art facility left idle. Can the Taoiseach personally intervene in this crisis and get the new facility open to the public?
Comment on this
A Topical Issue, I think, but perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, may reply.
Comment on this
That is an issue before the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC. There is a disagreement between unions and management in respect of staffing ratios.