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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

St Brigid's District Hospital reopening

Summary

Deputy Kelly challenged previous commitments on reopening St. Brigid's District Hospital in Carrick-on-Suir, saying the community had been misled. The Tánaiste said the hospital could not reopen as a district hospital because the building was too old, but it would reopen as a community healthcare facility.

I again raise the issue of St. Brigid's District Hospital in Carrick-On-Suir. I take great interest in health issues but, in my time in politics, I have rarely seen an issue on which people have been misled so much. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, gave a commitment to Deputy Cahill that it would reopen in July. A number of commitments were given to all public representatives. I also have correspondence from July. Up until recently, we understood from our conversations with the HSE that it was to reopen. This is a very sensitive matter in that county for palliative care and respite. The idea that we will just purchase beds in other areas is not on. It is also not on that the HSE, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, would treat public representatives in a way whereby until literally hours or days ago we were being totally misled. I ask the Tánaiste to look into this. How all of a sudden is this facility being closed despite assurances being given to members of the Tánaiste's own party and Government that it would reopen?

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Leo Varadkar The Tánaiste Fine Gael

As I mentioned, the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, spoke to the Deputy about that this morning. I am advised that it cannot reopen as a district hospital because the infrastructure is too old and inadequate in the modern age, particularly now that the issue of infection control will be so important. However, it will be reopened as a community healthcare facility, improving services in the area, particularly for those with chronic diseases like diabetes.

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