We are looking forward to the new community nursing unit in Thomastown.

It is being completed at the moment. It will be a purpose-built facility to support the older population of south and central Kilkenny. It will support discharges from St. Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, and University Hospital Waterford. It will be a lifeline for many and a game-changer for the region. When does the Minister envisage this new community nursing unit in Thomastown will be fully completed and operational?

I am aware workforce planning is progressing across all staff disciplines to ensure the required competence and skill mix of staff is in place to facilitate the operational schedule but there are vacancies in speech and language therapists in Thomastown that have not been filled for the past two years, so much so that it is on its brochure that it currently has vacancies in speech and language therapy. Obviously, that cannot continue. I am looking for assurances from the Minister that this will be looked into as a matter of urgency.

I thank the Deputy for raising this. As he said, I know there is a new 95-bed unit that is now located in Thomastown providing really important health services to the community he represents. He is correct, unfortunately, to say that there has been a delay with regard to the recruitment of speech and language therapists. The post has been advertised on two different occasions and it has not been possible to get the therapist needed by the community. A campaign is under way for the post. The HSE will continue to focus on how that role can be filled. I agree with the Deputy that is really important that it happens.