Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for giving me the opportunity to raise this important matter. I raised the issue of the funding for the new community hospital in Tuam several times before in the House and on each occasion the answer was more evasive than the previous one. I hope this does not happen again tonight.
A well attended public meeting in Tuam last week heard angry calls for urgent action to be taken to get the padlocks off the gates and the hospital opened. Something sinister is going on and it appears the Government is trying to hoodwink the people of Tuam and north Galway on the issue. When the Department of Health and Children funded the purchase of the existing site, it was expected that great urgency would be displayed in getting specifications, sketch plans and other details in place in order that the type, size, shape and main functions of the new hospital would be outlined in great detail and agreed between the Department and the health boards. I do not believe that indepth discussions have taken place.
The fact is the procedures outlined have still not been implemented because the Western Health Board does not have a penny to pay for the specifications and sketch plans. Only recently, while under pressure in Ballinasloe, the Minister told a delegation from Tuam that he did not even have available the €1 million required to do the initial specifications. He said, however, that he "would try to find it". Even more curious is the fact that for €6 million major work could be carried out which would allow part of the hospital to open to the public. However, there is no sign of money or a guarantee from where it will come.
As the project is not under the auspices of the national development plan, we must wait for all other projects to be funded first. If the Government was sincere in its intentions towards Tuam hospital, the money would be earmarked. It is remarkable what can be done when there is cash on the table. One needs only consider what happened with the national aquatic centre and the Jeanie Johnston project where money was made available in an instant.
Even more curious still is the direction given, I presume by the Minister for Health and Children, to instruct officials of the Western Health Board to display the so-called artist's impression of the new hospital, even before it has been agreed what the hospital will do, when it will open, what activities it will have and, more importantly, from where the funding will come. This was a publicity stunt to keep the people of Tuam happy. If this is the case, it has certainly backfired.
The Minister must produce a better answer tonight. It is imperative that the hospital opens quickly. Given some of the signals which have been emanating from both the health board and the Department of Health and Children in recent times, unless something spectacular is done to get upfront funding, the hospital may not open in the next four or five years. In fact, if the opening is delayed long enough, the strategists in both the Department of Health and Children and the health board may find a very good reason for never opening it.
It is against this background that I ask the Minister to state from where the money will be earmarked to allow the hospital to open and when this will happen.
