During the recent election campaign, the Taoiseach's party issued written reassurances on the future of Bantry General Hospital and the anaesthetist post there. In the programme for Government, however, no specific commitment was made on Bantry hospital, even though commitments were made for many more hospitals.

Almost two years ago, the then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, visited Bantry General Hospital with the usual fanfare to announce funding to start the build of an endoscopy unit. Two years later, not a sod has been turned or a brick laid. Were the people of west Cork misled or can the Taoiseach tell me today when the endoscopy unit promised to Bantry General Hospital will be started?

Deputy Carthy will speak on the same matter.

Regarding health facilities, the Taoiseach will be aware of a situation in Carrickmacross involving a group home for young adults with severe physical and sensory disabilities. This building was promised by the HSE in 2006. It was completed in 2016.

That is a separate matter.

The Taoiseach is aware of this because on 4 December last year, he wrote to the then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, outlining the seriousness of the situation. I have a written reply from the current Minister for Health, the Taoiseach's party colleague, that has indicated he cannot even commit to funding to open the centre next year.

I thank the Deputy. It is not the same matter.

Will the Taoiseach ask the Minister for Health to ensure the families of these people with severe disabilities have the group home they were promised more than a decade and a half ago?

Deputy, please. Will the Taoiseach deal with Deputy Collins's question?

As a former Minister for Health, I have had a long-standing commitment to Bantry hospital and I put significant resources in at that time. We do not put into the programme for Government approval for every individual post at a particular hospital, such as anaesthesia, cardiac surgery or whatever. We are, however, mindful of the issue raised by the Deputy. Deputies O'Sullivan and Cairns have also raised this with me in trying to make sure there is anaesthesia cover for Bantry hospital because that is essential for other activities to happen and for cover to happen within the hospital. Regarding the endoscopy unit, I will follow that up with the Deputy. Again, I do not get involved with the nuts and bolts of delivering particular facilities but I will revert to him with regard to that.