I welcome the opportunity to again raise the need to provide an adequate health care unit at Cootehill. The Minister of State will be aware, from his Department's files, that I raised this issue by way of parliamentary questions on a number of occasions. I appeal to the Minister and the Minister of State to provide funding for this project within the 1997 capital budget allocation to the North Eastern Health Board.
Cootehill is the second largest town in County Cavan with a population in excess of 2,000. It also has a sizeable population in its large catchment area which stretches into north County Monaghan. Cootehill is a town of great importance to the east Cavan region. Unfortunately, for a town of its size and for the population of its catchment area, there is no proper health care unit. I have put forward a strong case to the health board for some time and, latterly to the Department of Health and the Minister, to have this project progressed as quickly as possible. The Minister for Health, Deputy Noonan, visited Cootehill some time ago and met representatives of the political parties, local public representatives and members of local voluntary organisations. He was made aware of the keen local interest in having this much needed facility provided as quickly as possible.
The people of Cootehill and its catchment area deserve to have a full range of medical and nursing services provided in a modern centre such as that proposed for the town. The facility, when provided, will be of major benefit to the local population. I am aware that health board officials have been anxious to make further progress with this proposal. I was delighted when it was decided to plan this health care unit to encompass a wide range of facilities including provision for general practitioner services, speech therapy, dental, public health nursing, occupational therapy, psychological and other services, and a day care centre.
There are many active voluntary organisations in Cootehill which do an outstanding job. They will make a significant contribution to the successful operation of an adequate day care centre. The provision of a proper day care centre within the health care unit will be of great benefit to the local elderly population. It is essential to have such facilities in towns such as Cootehill so that people of that age group can avail of them. The people of this area deserve to have a comprehensive range of community health services provided in a modern and adequate facility. Likewise, those responsible for delivering the health services also deserve access to proper facilities.
The concluding paragraph in the Minister's reply to my most recent parliamentary question on this issue on Wednesday, 22 January is as follows:
The question of funding for health centre priorities in 1997 is currently under consideration in my Department and will be communicated to the health boards in the near future.
I appeal to the Minister of State to convey to the Minister the anxiety of local people and public representatives that the necessary funding should be provided to enable construction of the proposed centre at Cootehill to commence as early as possible in 1997.
