St Theresa's Hospital Clogheen
Deputy Mattie McGrath sought progress on a long-delayed St Theresa's Hospital project in Clogheen and said it needed upgrading to meet HIQA standards. The Tánaiste said he could not answer on the specific project in the House but would ask the Health Minister's office to reply.
My question relates to the commitments in the programme for Government in respect of health care, to which the Tánaiste referred. There is a wonderful institution, St. Theresa's Hospital, in Clogheen, County Tipperary. A local committee and families whose loved ones died in the hospital have raised almost €500,000 and the Health Service Executive, HSE, is to contribute €400,000 or €500,000. However, we cannot get to have meetings or engagement with the HSE. The project has been left hanging for three years and different designs have been brought over and back. The hospital has an excellent staff and matron and is widely used by people from across County Tipperary and west Waterford. I ask the Tánaiste to drop into the hospital which is located not far from the motorway-----
Comment on this
It is. The programme for Government contains a commitment to fund health care. This is a wonderful community facility which needs more space. The Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, is demanding improvements at the hospital. The project must be progressed to meet HIQA standards. We need action from the Government in that regard.
Comment on this
I think the Deputy is referring to a commitment in the programme for Government to fund health care services generally. He is probably stretching it a little. I cannot give him an answer about a specific project on the floor of the House, but I will ask the office of the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, to revert to him.