I wish to thank the Chair for allowing me to raise this important matter. I do not mean any disrespect to the Minister of State present, but this is the third time in recent months this matter has been raised — it was raised in the Seanad by Senator Burke on 3 February and this is the second time I have raised it on the Adjournment — and I am extremely disappointed that on each occasion the Minister for Health was not present, nor was the Minister of State at that Department. I regard this as contemptuous treatment of a legitimate and valid claim which was first made 20 years ago. It is simply not good enough that time after time when a mater is raised in this House the Minister responsible fobs it off to a decent Minister of State who does not know the intricacies or the details involved in what is a complex matter. I speak for the people of Mayo, for the nurses and doctors of the hospital, the patients and all involved with Mayo General Hospital.
The 1994 Estimates include a provision of £45 million for capital services for hospital buildings and the provision of medical facilities in hospitals. In respect of the commencement of phase 2 of the work at Mayo General Hospital only a paltry sum is required. There is a conspiracy of complacency between sections of the health board and the Department of Health in this matter. It is obvious that there are some people who do not want phase 2 of Mayo General Hospital completed. I am astounded at the length of time it has taken to establish an agreement between the Department of Health and the Western Health Board that this is the board's priority for capital development — I note in the Minister's reply to a question from me last week that he agrees this is the case.
Why did the official the Minister was supposed to have sent to Mayo General Hospital not appear to discuss this matter? Why has no meeting taken place between officials of the health board and the Department of Health on determining the difference in estimated funding for completion of phase 2 — £15 million is the Department of Health estimate and £7 million is the Western Health Board estimate? I challenge the Minister to examine the report submitted by the quantity surveyor, which is with the health board, and shows an estimated cost of £7 million for completion of phase 2. Why did the meeting not take place as promised?
This matter has become a political football at the expense of the people of Mayo. When Commissioner Flynn was in office he promised that this work would go ahead, but he failed to deliver. Deputy O'Rourke, when Minister for Health, promised this facility, as did Deputy O'Hanlon when Minister, but both Ministers failed to deliver. Ten years after I was elected to this House Barry Desmond, then Minister for Health, sanctioned work on phase 1 of this project.
The Minister for Health, a hardworking Minister, made an announcement on this matter on 3 February, but it is not good enough merely to announce the go ahead for planning and design. There is a further six months' work involved in the planning and design stage and very little money will be required in 1994. I expect the Minister, when he visits Mayo on 30 May, to not alone announce the go ahead for planning and design but to state that we will allow the matter to proceed to tender thereafter. He should guarantee that money will be made available in the 1995 Estimates to ensure that work begins on phase 2 of this project.
A geriatric assessment unit is urgently required at Mayo General Hospital, in view of the fact that this part of Ireland has the highest number of people over 65 years. The casualty department has only three cubicles and is completely inadequate to deal with over 16,500 attendances per year. A distance of over 400 yards must be travelled to bring x-rays to and from casualty departments. What was designed as the centre of the building is now at the end; it is half a hospital and represents contemptuous treatment of people who must travel very long distances between Sligo Regional Hospital and University College Hospital in Galway.
There is a conspiracy of complacency in the Department of Health in regard to this matter. Somebody does not want the phase 2 development to be completed and I challenge the Minister, on behalf of all the people of County Mayo, to state categorically that he will allow this phase to go ahead because the road is now clear for him to do so.
I warn Fianna Fáil and Labour that this matter will not be treated lightly in the next two weeks. These weeks are critical for the provision of facilities for all our people for the next 50 years. It is insulting that one should have to raise this matter continually in the House without having the Minister present. It is simply not good enough that the people of County Mayo should be left deprived of medical facilities that are so urgently required. The Government, with a majority of 36, can take this action at any time but it so happens that a by-election is due to take place on 9 June and I hope the matter is dealt with before then.
I urge the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, to communicate to the Minister for Health the serious concerns of everybody in our county in regard to this matter. We know action cannot take place overnight; it must happen on a phased basis. I passionately urge the Minister of State to communicate this request to the Minister immediately so that he can deal with it on 30 May when he visits our county.
