The programme for Government commits to improving our services throughout the health service. Specifically, I refer to St. Joseph’s campus in Longford. Recently, following a HIQA report, the physiotherapy department which serves the people of Longford and the patients in St. Joseph’s Care Centre has had to move location in the centre into a building that is due to be demolished in six months due to ongoing works and welcome investment into the campus. However, staff have been notified of the possibility that they might be moving to Athlone or Mullingar which would mean that service would no longer be available to the people of Longford. I seek commitments that physiotherapy department will go back to its location on that site or an additional site will be located to make sure we maintain that service in our county and, indeed, to improve the services available on that campus in general.

This is a disability service, is it?

Physiotherapy.

For where?

For St. Joseph’s Care Centre in Longford.

The Deputy referred to the HIQA report. Obviously, HIQA operates independently. It was felt the current location on the campus was impacting the residents of the nursing home, that is, the community nursing unit itself, so an agreement was reached that it would look for an alternative permanent location. In the interim it has temporarily located on another area in the campus where there is separate access. The older persons services in primary care is working with St. Joseph’s Longford to look at a permanent location. I will take the Deputy’s point about it being located in the area back to the HSE to ensure it is incorporated into the deliberations on a permanent solution.