Adjournment Debate.

Hospitals Building Programme.

Mr. Cassidy

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this important matter. For the past ten years or more, phase 2B of Longford-Westmeath General Hospital has been a bone of contention to the people of the area it serves. As Deputy for County Westmeath for almost four years, I wish to ensure that the Government continues to make progress in its commitment to this vital service in the midlands. I welcome the vital steps that have already been taken in progressing phase 2B. I thank the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, for the commitment she has given and the Taoiseach for taking a personal interest in the first part of phase 2B, which involves the shelled out section at Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar.

An announcement was made last month that preparations were at an advanced stage for the tendering process. This has been advertised in the EU Journal, in which a prior indicative notice, PIN, was published. The scope of the tender is for the fit-out of the existing shelled wards, refurbishment of the existing wards and associated works, and the construction of new surface car parks and associated external works. This is an important step in the development of the facilities at Longford-Westmeath General Hospital. The efforts made by public representatives of all political parties in the area are paying off at least. To leave a shelled out building in any area for ten years causes anxiety and raises many questions.

Thankfully, the population in this area is increasing massively. I became a Member of the Oireachtas in 1982 at which time there was widespread unemployment, emigration and despair. There is now practically full employment and no forced emigration, and young people can get married and rear their own families in the area in which they grew up. It is heartening to hear that the work at the hospital in Mullingar will be completed in the space of eight to ten months. I acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the design team, architects and former members of the former Midland Health Board, of which I was a member for 18 years.

The services and facilities at Mullingar Hospital are second to none. The staff, including consultants, nursing staff and personal assistants, is excellent. Anybody who has been a patient there or has had a family member there will be only too well aware of the great facilities. I particularly welcome the establishment of the new baby care unit in recent months. I also welcome the new dermatology service to be provided. Approval has been received to fill the consultant dermatologist post and it will be advertised in coming weeks. This will be important for the people of the area as I understand 450 patients are on a waiting list for this service. I thank all concerned in progressing these developments.

I look forward to the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, informing the House as to when phase 2B will go to tender. Will he give an assurance whether the contract will be for eight or ten months? Will penalty clauses be inserted to ensure the work is completed in that timeframe?

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O’Malley)

I thank Deputy Cassidy for raising this matter. I will deal with the Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney.

The original general hospital in Mullingar was built during the 1930s and subsequently extended through a phase one development which was officially opened in 1990. Planning then commenced on the second phase of the development of the hospital, which was subsequently divided into two phases, 2A and 2B. Phase 2A opened in 1997-98 and included a radiology department, an outpatients department, an accident and emergency department, and a main concourse and reception area.

It was agreed at the time that part of the construction contract for phase 2A would include the shelling out of four floors designed to house ward accommodation scheduled for provision as part of phase 2B. This was considered prudent both from a long-term value for money perspective and to minimise disruption to existing functioning accommodation during phase 2B construction. Capital funds to progress phase 2B are provided for by the Health Service Executive in its health capital investment framework 2005-09. The full project has been sanctioned up to detailed design and tender stage.

It was decided to fast-track the first phase of the development, which comprises the completion of the fit-out of the ward accommodation in the shelled out area. The detailed design and preparation of tender documentation for this work is at an advanced stage and the HSE midland region has lodged a prior indicative notice in the EU Journal for the first stage with the intention of going to tender shortly. The target completion date for the first stage, that is, the fit-out of the shelled area, is early 2007. On completion, the fit-out of the shelled accommodation will provide an additional 45 beds, mainly medical and surgical beds.

The design work on the second stage of the project is to continue in parallel with the fit out and equipping of the shelled accommodation project. The second stage will include the provision of the following new facilities: a pathology department, operating department, medicine for the elderly-rehabilitation unit, acute psychiatric unit, child and adolescent psychiatric unit, occupational therapy department, administrative accommodation, staff accommodation, education facilities, catering facilities and a new entrance concourse. The second stage of the project, as planned to date, provides for a further 16 additional beds, mainly for day cases, as well as accommodating the transfer of 50 rehabilitation and acute psychiatric beds from facilities currently located outside the hospital.

The additional revenue cost of commissioning the first stage of the development was estimated by the HSE midland area some time ago at more than €10 million. Given the significant level of expenditure involved, it was decided to review this estimate in advance of the project proceeding to tender. This review has taken place.

The executive has had to review the design of the project to take account of the recently completed SARI, strategy for the control of antimicrobial resistance in Ireland, guidelines relating to infection control. These guidelines have implications for the design of ward accommodation in the case of capital developments. As a consequence, it has been necessary for the HSE to redesign some elements of the Mullingar project. It is expected that the project will go to tender in the near future upon approval of the capital plan.

Job Losses.

Mr. McGinley

I appreciate this opportunity to raise this important matter on the Adjournment. Last Friday's announcement by Magee's of Donegal town that it will cease production of its clothing manufacturing unit with the loss of 60 jobs is but the latest in a long litany of such announcements throughout Donegal in recent times.

Last August the town received a major body blow when Hospira announced its closure with the loss of 560 jobs. Within a number of months a small town is losing more than 600 jobs. Surely it must be evident to all, even to the Minister and the Government, the devastation, human misery and suffering that is being inflicted on the employees and their families, not to mention the other businesses and services in the region.

I pay tribute to Magee's and its employment record in Donegal town which dates back almost 150 years. This was and still is a family friendly orientated industry in every sense of the word. Many generations of the same families were employed in it and looked upon their co-workers as almost family members. The imminent closure of its clothing manufacturing unit is entirely due to the astronomically escalating costs, including rates, labour, energy and insurance. Together they became an almost impossible financial burden on the company and the Government must accept a major share of the blame for allowing these overheads to get out of control.

What is happening in Donegal town at present has been happening in many other parts of County Donegal in recent years. Between 1997 and 2004 Donegal lost almost 6,500 jobs in IDA supported industries. These figures do not include Hospira, Magee's, Unifi in Letterkenny or the thousand or more job losses in Údarás na Gaeltachta aided industries.

One can justifiably say that since 1997 total job losses in Donegal must be verging on the astronomical total of 9,000 to 10,000, and that is a conservative figure. The list of closures and job losses is almost endless and includes: Donegal Rubber Company in Ballyshannon; Hospira and Magee's in Donegal town; Herdsmans and Nena Models in Ballybofey-Stranorlar; and Fruit of the Loom in Buncrana, Malin, Raphoe, Milford and Dungloe. Killybegs is almost a ghost town due to the depression in the fishing industry and Gweedore industrial estate in my parish once the jewel in the crown of Údarás na Gaeltachta is but a pale shadow of its former glory.

It is no exaggeration to state that Donegal is being turned into an industrial wasteland. Our industrial base is being completely eroded and that is causing an exodus of our young people from the county.

It is now almost three years since more than 400 decentralised jobs were promised to the county. Since then little or no progress has been achieved, and it could be another five or six years before these jobs are located in Donegal. Surely the recent spate of job losses will at least expedite the process of decentralisation to the county. It is true that we have task forces, plans and promises but no jobs have been created to replace what we have lost.

Donegal town and the county has much to offer and I compliment Donegal Town Community Chamber Limited in that respect. It has responded positively to the crisis in the town outlining the many advantages for businesses to locate there, including health services, child care facilities, educational services, competitive house prices, easy access by air and road and the availability of an educated and skilled workforce.

Donegal has given the Government more support than any other county. There are six Deputies in the county and five support the Government on a daily basis — that number would probably more than equal the number of Deputies supporting the Government in the Acting Chairman's county. That is tremendous support in any language, well in excess of 80%. However, that loyalty and support has not been reciprocated by the Government. Donegal has been taken for granted.

The economy of Donegal is over-dependent on the construction industry. Any downturn in that sector would trigger an economic freefall. I ask the Government to recognise the needs of the county and to act before it is too late. What we need is more action and jobs, not plans and platitudes. Radical action is urgently required.

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. M. Ahern)

I am glad to hear the Fine Gael Deputy is supportive of the decentralisation process.

Mr. McGinley

The question is will it ever happen.

Mr. M. Ahern

It is happening.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment. It has also been brought to our attention by the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher. There is a united front in Donegal South-West on this matter.

I learnt with grave disappointment of the recent decision by Magee Clothing Limited to cease manufacturing at its Donegal facility in 2007 with the loss of 60 jobs. The Magee company has been one that is synonymous with good quality suits and other clothing and it is a pity to see it go out of existence.

Approximately 50 jobs will be retained within Magee Clothing Limited together with 60 in Magee Weaving and 45 in the Magee shops. Enterprise Ireland is continuing to work with the company to secure its future development and is supporting a strategic review of the business due to take place in the next month.

The role of FÁS, the State training agency, will be particularly important in assisting those who are to lose their jobs. It has already been in contact with the company and will provide advice and training opportunities for the employees being made redundant. FÁS will make its full range of services available to the workers, which include top level agreement with the company on responsibilities and actions; intensive interviews, individually and in groups, with affected workers that will outline the range of supports and services available; preparation of a skills analysis report by FÁS based on identified workers' needs and local opportunities; referral of affected workers to jobs, training courses or other opportunities; the establishment of special or customised training courses where necessary; and ongoing support and action to keep redundant workers in touch with the labour market.

In the period 1999 to 2004, total new jobs created in IDA supported companies in the north west amounted to 3,286. Since 1999, total employment in overseas firms in counties Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim has risen by more than 6% to approximately 6,000 persons in 2004. IDA Ireland estimates that indirect employment would be at least comparable to this figure, if not higher. The agency will continue its efforts to attract new foreign direct investment into the region.

Enterprise Ireland is also playing its part. The agency is intensifying its efforts to assist existing, established client companies in Donegal through the provision of both financial and non-financial services. These include assistance to increase sales and support export development through its network of 33 overseas offices worldwide. It is also supporting research and development and harnessing the expertise within third level colleges while providing preferential funding for companies planning to expand their business in the BMW region. From 2004 to end 2005 Enterprise Ireland approved almost €4 million to client companies in County Donegal.

Enterprise Ireland has also introduced a new programme called Enterprise Start aimed at people considering a career move who would like to learn more about starting their own business. This programme is a joint venture between Enterprise Ireland and FÁS and has been designed to address the gap in provision of training for those mainly, though not exclusively, in employment seeking training in how to start a new enterprise. The programme has been rolled out in Sligo and will commence in Letterkenny in March 2006.

There have been significant job announcements in Donegal recently with over 210 new jobs announced in September 2005 by Zeus Industrial Products in Letterkenny and PowerBoard in Burnfoot. These projects are being supported by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, respectively. These projects were in addition to 423 jobs which my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, announced earlier this year for the north west.

The State development agencies, IDA Ireland, Enterprise lreland, FÁS and Donegal County Enterprise Board, are fully committed to supporting and promoting job creation and job retention in Donegal. In addition to recent job announcements, this commitment is also demonstrated through the ongoing development and support by the agencies for a number of business parks and enterprise centres in Donegal. These include the completion of the IDA Ireland Letterkenny business park, the provision of a 25,000 sq. ft. advance office building at Windyhall and the work under way on the development of technology units and two new additional advance office buildings.

Planning permission has been obtained for a new facility at Ballyshannon where IDA Ireland has undertaken a significant amount of site development work recently. In Donegal town, work is under way on the design of a 1,500 sq. m. advance office and the upgrading of the estate at Lurganbuoy. This design will be lodged for planning permission at an early date. In Buncrana a new extension to the estate has been developed and planning permission has been obtained for a 2,000 sq. m. factory. IDA Ireland is working with a local private developer in the provision of a manufacturing facility and an office building on the estate.

In addition to providing support for nine community enterprise centres in Donegal, Enterprise Ireland has provided substantial support for the expansion of the Letterkenny Institute of Technology business development centre.

There have been significant job losses in Donegal in recent years, particularly in traditional sectors such as textiles and clothing. The Minister, Deputy Martin, has visited Donegal twice since becoming Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and has met many groups and companies on these visits. His colleagues in Government also recognise the particular difficulties in Donegal and will work together to assist in improving the overall environment to increase the attractiveness of Donegal as a location for enterprises. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment established an interdepartmental group on Donegal which is chaired by the Secretary General of his Department and it held its first meeting in November last.

Support for job retention and creation in Donegal will continue to remain a high priority for the Government.

Road Safety.

Dr. Cowley

I am grateful to the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this important matter. The term "accident" is unfortunate because it implies that a road accident happens without cause, but there is always a cause. I refer to an incident in which a girl aged 22 years was killed on a road in Donegal in 2001, through no fault of her own. Her car was perfect. She drove at a low speed but she died because the road had not been left in proper condition.

There has been no proper finding about what happened there. Her family have lived in limbo since then, seeking justice for their daughter, by trying to find out who was responsible for taking this lovely girl so cruelly from them and from her husband. She was not drinking or speeding, she was going about her business, getting on with her life.

It is said that 4.5% of road accidents are caused by road conditions. This is only the tip of the iceberg. In Mayo, Aisling Gallagher was tragically killed because of someone's failure to complete a road surface. She also had every right to drive on that road and arrive home safely to her family, which she did not. For the same reason, lack of a proper road surface, five girls were killed on a school bus in Kentstown.

I have called for an audit of these cases which are not properly investigated. They are not investigated because people whom we pay to do a job are not doing that job properly, according to the regulations. When these accidents occur no one will investigate a local authority. Neither the National Roads Authority, nor the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will take responsibility.

The case of Sinéad McDaid is particularly tragic. She was driving on the road at 7.30 p.m. on 12 June 2001. Donegal County Council had newly resurfaced the road earlier that day. There was a bump on the stretch of road, which the workmen left covered in chippings when they finished, and there was only one small sign to warn the public of this. Maybe there was another sign which had fallen on to the side of the road.

Sinéad did nothing wrong yet she skidded off the road. Statements made at the inquest suggested that the chippings were responsible. The gardaí were called on 999 but said they were never called. A garda said he arrived on the scene but left, leaving the scene exposed, and returned later. When he returned he commenced measuring skid marks in the chippings left on the road.

The next morning Sergeant Michael Murray, discredited by the Morris tribunal, arrived at the scene to take photographs. He apparently was not available before this time. His photographs of the scene showed three warning signs on the road instead of the single one and the one that may have fallen on the side of the road. Two signs and a cone were put in place after this girl died and then the photographs were taken.

Not alone did the gardaí investigating the accident and Donegal County Council fail to preserve the scene but they used a road sweeper to sweep up the chippings. That is highly unusual. There are procedures for sweeping up road chippings which should have been followed but were not.

Neither the gardaí nor Donegal County Council reported the accident to the Health and Safety Authority as is required by law. There is an agreed memorandum of understanding that there is a commitment to liaise on the ground at the earliest opportunity to share information and co-operate to ensure an effective investigation, but this never happened. There is a serious conflict in this case. In the civil action taken by Sinéad's husband the photographs taken after extra signs were added were submitted to the High Court.

Nobody has ever taken responsibility for this girl's death. Following an investigation by her father, skid marks submitted as those of Sinéad's car have been proved to belong to the tow truck that pulled her car out of the drain. There have been major problems in this case, including no proper health and safety plan, and a serious conflict of evidence provided by the gardaí and Sergeant Murray, between what the gardaí at the scene said and the photographs.

Somebody must take responsibility for this case.

Acting Chairman (Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin)

The Deputy should not name people in the context of his contribution.

Dr. Cowley

I know that well. There is an ongoing Garda investigation, but this girl's case and those of the Kentstown girls and Aisling Gallagher call for justice. These are real people who have lost their lives and should not have done so. This demands justice.

Mr. M. Ahern

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who is unable to attend. I assure the Deputy that the Minister and I are conscious of the continuing distress that this tragic incident is causing the family of Ms McDaid. The Minister has received representations from the family and has corresponded with them recently.

Road safety is an area of vital public concern. The human cost of road collisions is high. Road fatalities and serious injuries affect many more people than those killed and injured. Families, friends, communities and others involved in the incidents are also affected. The publicly elected representatives and the agencies and Departments responsible for dealing with road safety related issues are all aware of the urgent necessity of bringing about a steady reduction in the numbers of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians killed and seriously injured on our roads. No single organisation has the capacity on its own to solve the problems of deaths and serious injuries. The acceptance of responsibility by all road users is just as important, if not more so, as is the work of organisations in getting to grips with the level of death and serious injury on our roads.

For some time and in furtherance of Government policy, road safety has been a priority for the Garda Síochána. Road traffic law enforcement is one of the highest policing priorities for this year as set out in the Garda Síochána policing plan 2006. The plan sets challenging targets. The traffic corps will spend 20% of duty time patrolling single lane carriages at collision-prone locations and 30% of duty time on speed enforcement. There will be an increase of 15% in arrest rates for driving while intoxicated. The Garda Síochána will increase duty time on static, high visibility vehicle checkpoints.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform established a dedicated Garda traffic corps in late 2004 and provided for the appointment of an assistant Garda Commissioner to head the corps. The achievement of the policing plan targets will be helped by this development and by the planned increase in the numbers in the traffic corps to 805 by the end of 2006 and to 1,200 by the end of 2008.

The Government's road safety strategy for the period 2004 to 2006, sets out an ambitious range of measures to be implemented. These cover the areas of road traffic law enforcement, road engineering measures, legislative measures, road safety awareness and education, community and local road safety work, ensuring safer vehicles and a road safety research programme. Work is under way on many initiatives in all these areas.

The improvement and maintenance of non-national roads in its area is a statutory function of each local authority as laid down in the Roads Act 1993. The issue of the quality of the road surface has been raised in this tragic case. The Minister has been informed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, that a range of specialist advice has issued to local authorities giving guidance relating to road works. This advice includes his Department's guidance document, Surface Dressing, the National Roads Authority document, Specification for Road Works, and the Department of Transport document, Traffic Signs Manual.

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, also published guidelines in 1999 on the depth of overlay to be used on rural non-national roads. Since then, local authorities have been regularly reminded of the need to apply surface dressing to dense bitumen macadam overlays as soon as is practicable for skid resistance purposes.

In response to the disturbing number of road fatalities in the Buncrana Garda district, a Garda traffic corps unit was established in the district on a pilot basis with effect from 20 October 2005. The unit is in addition to the traffic corps personnel already operating in the Donegal division.An interim evaluation of the unit has been conducted which indicates that there has been an overall reduction in the number of road traffic fatalities and an increase in the number of road traffic offences detected in the Buncrana district since the introduction of the unit. The Minister has been informed that following this review a decision has been made to extend the pilot until 15 March 2006 when a further evaluation will be carried out.

The crash which is the subject of this debate had not been reported to the Garda. However, the district patrol car came upon the scene subsequently. From inquiries made by the Garda members at the scene, it was established that a person had been removed to hospital. Some preliminary measurements were taken at the scene by the Garda Síochána. There was no indication as to the seriousness of the incident and, as a consequence, the scene was not preserved. By the time it became apparent that the crash had resulted in a fatality, the scene had been contaminated by other vehicular traffic and onlookers. Nevertheless, an investigation file was completed and submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. On 4 October 2001, the DPP directed that no prosecution take place in this case.

The Minister has been informed by the Garda authorities that an officer has been appointed to take charge of a review of the investigation into the death of Ms McDaid. The issues raised by the Deputy will be taken into account in the course of that review. In the interim, the Minister has sought a report from the Garda authorities on the issues raised by the Deputy, and he has undertaken to revert to the family.

There is no doubt that this is a very tragic case which continues to cause suffering and distress to the family of Ms McDaid. It is perfectly understandable that the family is seeking information on the circumstances of their loved one's death. The Minister will, however, await the outcome of the Garda review before commenting further on the case.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.45 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 23 February 2006.

Dáil Éireann debate - Wednesday, 22 Feb 2006