I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter. This is an important issue for the people of Enniscorthy and County Wexford. St. John's Hospital is a 155 bed geriatric hospital. It is well run and the staff work extremely hard in bad conditions.
The hospital was built in 1842 as a workhouse so the Minister will appreciate how dilapidated it has become, particularly in recent years. Approximately 150 staff, including nurses and care assistants, work in the building. There are seven wards which vary in size from 16 bed wards to a 26 bed ward. The beds are almost on top of each other. It is a scandal to see hospital beds so close together. It makes it hard for the staff to work with the patients and it does not give long-term patients any degree of privacy. I invite the Minister of State to Wexford to visit St. John's Hospital. He will be one of many Ministers to visit. There is also a day care centre at the hospital which is used by between 30 and 35 patients each day.
The new hospital was due to go to tender earlier this year and the sod was due to be turned in September or October. A state-of-the-art kitchen was promised, as were 64 beds and a new administration unit. A new hospital building was first promised in 1986. The Ceann Comhairle is one of the former Ministers who visited the hospital. I do not blame him, however, because he was only the messenger boy who was sent down to keep the people of Enniscorthy happy. He will be surprised to discover that many Ministers have followed in his footsteps, including the former Minister of State, Dr. Tom Moffatt, and the current Minister, Deputy Martin. Even the Taoiseach visited the hospital before the general election. He made another promise but this promise, like many other promises he made, was left on the long waiting list like the patients or was broken.
I urge the Minister to outline exactly what the position is with regard to St. John's Hospital. People in Enniscorthy are extremely worried about this. Will the new hospital be built? If it is due to be built, when will tenders be invited and when will the first sod be turned? What is the proposed completion date of the hospital?
I compliment the staff and management of St. John's Hospital. They are working in substandard conditions. There are narrow corridors and limited space between beds. They have to lift patients everywhere, including up and down the stairs because there is only one lift in the hospital. One could not swing a cat in the kitchen and all the cooking is done on the campus. It is unbelievable. The work and dedication of the staff in St. John's Hospital are incredible.
The Minister must clearly state the exact position with regard to this hospital. I hope he does not have bad news because I am seeking good news. The new hospital was promised in 1986 but 17 years later it is no closer to being built.
