Vol. 512 No. 6
291 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the action, if any, he will take in relation to Edgeworthstown Hostel, County Longford, which remains unopened since its purchase for the community care of psychiatric patients in 1996 due to a dispute between the Midland Health Board and the Psychiatric Nurses Association over staffing levels and the type of patients to be housed there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27113/99]
The Edgeworthstown Hostel was acquired in the context of ward closures in St. Loman's Hospital, Mullingar, and the need to provide improved community-based accommodation for psychiatric patients. Despite the intervention of the Labour Relations Commission, no agreement has been reached to date between the board and the Psychiatric Nurses Association on the staffing levels at the new facility and for this reason it has not yet been opened. I understand the board has put new proposals to the union side for consideration and is currently awaiting a response.
