Adjournment Debate.

Hospital Staff.

Deputy Seán Sherlock

I am disappointed the Minister for Health and Children, who has primacy for this issue, has left the Chamber. I would have liked if she stayed for the five minutes allocated to me on this issue. There was a proposal made at the end of March that the number of consultants operating at Mallow General Hospital be reduced from three to two. This was on the termination of a contract of employment. The result of the termination would have been to reduce accident and emergency cover within the hospital from seven days to five, resulting in Monday to Friday cover from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This decision was already taken, a fait accompli and, but for the actions of people such as the Mallow Hospital Action Committee, of which I am secretary, Friends of Mallow Hospital and general practitioners who came out fighting and held a press conference, deciding that an expression of “no confidence” would be placed in the management of Mallow General Hospital, the management would have proceeded with the decision without a “by your leave”.

Because of the action, the furore, and the amount of public protest as a result of the decision, the HSE has stated that it is in a position to fill the post with a locum consultant until the end of May. We have no commitment in writing that the HSE is intent on the continuation of a third surgical position at Mallow. We fear the intention of the HSE and the Minister to downgrade our hospital and reduce by stealth the number of surgical posts in the hospital, thereby reducing the accident and emergency services and funnelling everything to CUH which, if one believes the HSE, is the new Jerusalem in the south and will solve all our ills. We believe the process will have a detrimental effect on the lives of the 100,000 people in the catchment area of Mallow General Hospital, having an adverse effect on medical outcomes. CUH is ill-equipped to deal with the extra work load this development will entail.

I call on the Minister of State to give guarantees in writing that Mallow, as a secondary care facility, will continue as the centre of excellence that it is, that the 100 GPs referring patients to the hospital will have the accident and emergency cover they need and that there will be three surgeons or more to provide the service to more than 100,000 people who require it. We also want to ensure that the hospital — an excellent facility — goes from strength to strength and will not be downgraded any further.

We demand a clear commitment in writing from the HSE, that it will ensure the continuation of a third surgical position so that we can deliver services to our people on the ground. We have no confidence in the current management system because we have listened to promises on the roll-out of a CT scanner, which has been idle for more than three years. We have no radiologist in the hospital, which was promised. We have no executive management board, which was promised and for which the HSE stated it would embark on a consultation process. The dogs on the street know that a 15 minute consultation with one or two GPs does not constitute a consultation in our book. We call for the instigation of an executive management board so that we can call into question any decisions on the future of the hospital and examine and provide an audit report of any accounting procedures relating to the hospital.

We want to see a centre of excellence at Mallow. It has a positive effect on the outcomes of patients in the region and we will oppose vehemently any attempt by the HSE to downgrade services. We want to see firm commitments from the Minister of State and to see the third post instigated in perpetuity so that the people of the region can have a proper standard of care, and excellent care at that.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Jimmy Devins)

I am taking this debate on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney.

The Government is committed to ensuring the delivery of the best quality health services possible and doing so both effectively and efficiently. Ensuring patient safety is of paramount importance, to ensure that people can have confidence in the services and that the best possible patient outcomes can be achieved. The Health Information and Quality Authority was established on a statutory basis in 2007 and is responsible for driving quality and safety in the health and social care services. In 2007 a new Medical Practitioners Act was enacted, the first major overhaul in 30 years of the law regulating the medical profession. In 2007 the Minister also established the Commission on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance to develop proposals for a health service wide system of governance based on corporate accountability for the quality and safety of all health services. In this context it is essential that every health care provider and facility is fully cognisant of patient safety issues and takes account of these in the organisation, management and delivery of services.

In respect of Mallow General Hospital, the HSE has indicated that patient safety is of paramount importance to the hospital management and that it intends to undertake a systems and risk management review of surgical services at the hospital. Draft terms of reference are being drawn up and will be discussed with the relevant parties before they are finalised. To ensure that surgical services continue to be delivered safely in the meantime, the hospital management met recently with the Irish Hospital Consultants Association and consultants at Mallow General Hospital and they have agreed arrangements for consultant surgeon cover at Mallow General Hospital, which will apply until 31 May 2008.

The parties have also agreed to meet and discuss arrangements for surgical services after this period. The HSE will continue to work closely with all involved to ensure that a high quality service is available to all patients at Mallow General Hospital.

Deputy Seán Sherlock

The Minister of State did not address one point that I raised and it is an insult to the people of the region that a Minister of State can give such a bland reply in the House.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

I understand the Deputy's feelings but there is no right of reply.

Deputy Seán Sherlock

It makes a mockery of the House, with all due respect.

Deputy Michael Ahern

It is, with all due respect, thanks to this Government that Mallow is so well looked after.

Airport Development Projects.

Deputy Simon Coveney

I hope I will get more direct answers to the question I raise.

Deputy Michael Ahern

Look at all the money that was put in over the years.

Deputy Simon Coveney

I hope the Minister of State will take this issue seriously.

Deputy Michael Ahern

I was there when a Government refused to put a farthing into the place. We went into Government and increased——

Acting Chairman

We are dealing with Cork Airport.

Deputy Ulick Burke

We know the answer already.

Deputy Simon Coveney

The problem is that the Minister of State is making a joke out of an issue and will not let me speak on it.

Deputy Michael Ahern is one of the Ministers who has allowed Cork Airport to be saddled with a debt that it should never have had, because of lobbying from the Dublin Airport Authority, and from Dublin Deputies.

Deputy Michael Ahern

Of course, that is not true at all.

Deputy Simon Coveney

The Minister of State failed. He shall have his opportunity in a minute and I look forward to hearing what he has to say. The reality is that back in 2003, the Minister made the right decision, split up Aer Rianta and set up three independent airports at Cork, Shannon and Dublin — to provide some competition between them. It was also a correct decision to go ahead with the new airport terminal in Cork Airport, but Aer Rianta was to build it at the time the decision was made. In order to get Cork Airport and its staff to buy into the separation of Aer Rianta and allay concerns about the cost of building the new terminal in Cork, it was made absolutely clear at the time that an independent Cork and Shannon would be able to compete with Dublin on a debt-free basis.

Members of the new board appointed by the Minister at the time were given assurances that they would take up their positions on the basis of managing and developing a new independent Cork Airport, with a debt-free status. Since then everything has changed. The cost of the terminal was more than what had been budgeted for, but the financial management of that project was handled by the Dublin Airport Authority, not the Cork Airport Authority. Now, following a report by Mr. Peter Cassells — an initiative to try to distance Government and ministerial responsibility from this issue which was essentially based on a political promise — Cork Airport is being saddled with a debt of €113 million, which it has to service on an annual basis. No doubt, the Minister of State will dismiss this by saying Cork Airport has a land bank which it can sell off to finance some of that debt. That land should have been used for future expansion and growth at Cork Airport — to put in place moneys for an aggressive marketing budget so that Cork can compete aggressively, grow and take traffic away from Dublin, which is overcrowded.

Dublin Airport needs a competitive Cork Airport as much as Cork does. Yesterday, we saw the result of the betrayal of Cork Airport by Cork Ministers and Government Deputies, when the chairman of the authority announced he would step down in June and not stand for re-election. This was a chairman we all hoped would carry Cork forward and develop it into an airport that has the potential to grow even more rapidly, given its terminal has the capacity to take between 5 million and 6 million passengers. Instead, we have an airport that will be less competitive than it should be and more expensive for airlines and passengers because of the fact that it has to service the debt on which we were given assurances in 2003, confirmed again in 2004 before the new board was set up at Cork.

People will dismiss this issue by asking why Dublin should pay for Cork, insisting the Dublin Airport Authority has enough to worry about in developing Dublin Airport. The reality is that when Aer Rianta was split up, the Dublin Airport Authority was given assets to compensate it for taking on debt at Cork and Shannon — the Great Southern Hotel group, which it subsequently sold for €230 million and Aer Rianta International.

The board of Cork Airport voted to accept a debt of €113 million last week on the basis of another promise from the Minister to the effect that if the authority got into difficulties in servicing debt in the future, the Government would assist it on that. I want the Minister of State to clarify for the House this evening what the basis of that promise was and what the actual commitment from this Government is towards assisting the Cork Airport Authority in servicing debt into the future.

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Michael Ahern)

On the announcement yesterday of Mr. Joe Gantly's decision to step down from the board at the end of July next, the Minister paid tribute to his achievements during his time as chairman. In responding to the Deputy, I propose to set out the initiatives that the Minister has taken to facilitate the separation of Cork airport from the DAA, a key objective that he shares with Mr. Gantly. The Minister has co-operated with Mr. Gantly in the endeavour to resolve outstanding issues relating to separation.

The State Airports Act, 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon and Cork as independent airports. As part of the airport restructuring process the boards of Cork and Shannon airport are required to prepare business plans for eventual separation.

The Cork business plan was submitted to the DAA at the end of last year and subsequently forwarded to me with DAA's commentary. There were clear divergences between both authorities on the business plan and particularly on the level of debt that the CAA would absorb in its business plan.

To break the impasse between the two bodies the Minister decided to appoint Mr. Peter Cassells to engage in a constructive dialogue with the CAA and DAA boards in order to establish whether there was a basis for a speedy resolution of the disagreement between the two parties. Mr. Cassells reported to the Minister on the matter and the Minister published his report on 2 April.

His conclusions and recommendations were the outcome of that dialogue with the DAA and CAA. They provided an opportunity for a final decision to be made on the financial consideration to be paid by the CAA in respect of the transfer of net assets of €220 million on separation. In essence, they provided the Cork Airport Authority with a funding solution post separation of €20 million to €40 million, in return for the transfer of net assets of €220 million, while reducing DAA's indebtedness by €113 million.

The Minister believed Mr. Cassells's recommendations represented a sensible solution to this impasse, which he urged both parties to accept as soon as possible. He then asked Mr. Cassells to assist the two boards as regards bringing the issue to a speedy, mutually acceptable conclusion. Mr. Cassells' subsequent efforts lead to the acceptance of his report by the CAA Board on 10 April last.

The Minister would point out, as previously stated, that he gave no assurances to the CAA about financial support from the State.

Deputy Simon Coveney

That was not on, was it?

Deputy Michael Ahern

It is Government policy that commercial State-sponsored bodies should operate to a commercial mandate, to include the capacity to finance capital investment without Exchequer support. The State Airports Act envisages that the three State airports will operate to such a commercial mandate. Any proposal to depart from this policy would, in any event, require EU Commission approval under the relevant Commission guidelines for state aid in the airport sector.

A process of engagement will now commence with all the relevant parties on implementation and the technical and legal issues involved will be progressed by the Cork and Shannon airport authorities and the Department.

It is the Minister's intention therefore to proceed without delay to effect the full separation of the three State airports, as set out in the State Airports Act 2004. This process will involve the preparation of revised business plans taking account of the Cassells' recommendations.

Deputy Simon Coveney

This is a joke.

Deputy Michael Ahern

In due course, the business plans will be submitted to the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Finance for approval as regards the State airports' financial and operational readiness.

The Minister looks forward to working with the CAA board, as it proceeds with the next steps for the airport's separation from the DAA. Also, as part of this process, there will be a need to engage in necessary consultation with stakeholders. In this regard the Minister recognises that there is an understanding with ICTU concerning the framework for consultation with trade unions on the airport business plans.

The Minister would reassure all concerned that the legal commitments enshrined in the State Airports Act concerning the protection of terms and conditions of employment of State airport employees, as well as the requirements for consultation on future collective bargaining structures, will be honoured in full.

Deputy Simon Coveney

Will the Minister of State have the decency to answer in the 30 seconds still remaining? I asked the Minister of State to outline contacts the Minister has had with the chairman of the board. He has not mentioned this once.

Deputy Michael Ahern

I shall bring that matter to the attention of the Minister.

Deputy Simon Coveney

That was what I asked about, but the Minister of State gave us a history lesson.

Schools Building Projects.

Deputy Ulick Burke

I thank the Ceann Comhairle, at the outset, for selecting this item this evening for debate.

On behalf of the board of management, staff, pupils and parents of Eglish national school, Ballinasloe, County Galway, I ask that the Minister respond to their needs with the immediate replacement of the school in the interests of health and safety and provide temporary accommodation. In the short time available, I will describe the conditions in the school adequately so the Minister of State can respond. The school was built in 1899 and is therefore 109 years old. It has 48 pupils in its two rooms. Over the years, Department funding would normally be provided to upgrade such a school, but not in this case. Without exaggeration, I contend the Minister of State will be horrified at the crisis in the school, which requires an urgent response. Let me quote the response of the board of management and new principal of the school to the conditions therein:

Our school is 109 years old and is falling down around us. We have no central heating, only one hot water source, heating one tap. The roof is rotten and slates fall off regularly. The walls are cracking at an alarming rate, the wiring is a fire hazard. We have damp, mould, snails, rats and bats. The windows are rotten and leaking — several have had to be nailed shut to stop them from falling in. The toilet floors are regularly flooded .... In short, we desperately need a new school.

The application for a new school is with the Department in Tullamore.

There is a crisis in the school. To add to it, there are pupils with special needs who have no facilities whatsoever. Access via the steps and narrow doors is not possible for a person in a wheelchair. There is an autistic pupil at the school but there is no place for one-to-one education, except in a draughty hallway. I cannot understand how any Minister for Education and Science, conscious of health and safety, can allow this to continue. The authorities are seeking a new school. The old one will have to be knocked down and temporary accommodation will have to be provided. A new teacher is due in the school next September but there is no room for that teacher.

In the interest of health and safety, the board of management had to call in Rentokil to eliminate the rats from the school and its surroundings. The last sentence in Rentokil's report states: "I would recommend that young children be kept indoors until the rodent activity is controlled." If, in 2008, this is the best we can do for the children, parents and staff associated with Eglish national school, we have a very serious crisis.

I do not want to hear the Minister of State list the funding allocated for school renovations in 2008 and over the past ten years. This is not what the people of Eglish want to hear tonight. I ask that he make a positive gesture and put in place a plan for issuing an immediate response to the board of management. We cannot condemn children to endure the aforedescribed circumstances in this 109 year old school in order to provide them with an education. If we are serious about providing them with an education, some semblance of support for those who are disadvantaged is required. I await the Minister of State's response but I cannot understand why such a crisis must be inflicted on pupils in this day and age.

Deputy Michael Ahern

I thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to outline to the House my Department's position on the proposed new school at Eglish. Eglish national school is a co-educational facility with a current enrolment of 48 pupils. The school has a principal, a mainstream assistant and a resource teacher for Travellers.

An application for capital funding towards the provision of a new school building has been received from Eglish national school. The long-term projected staffing assessment and the further progression of the proposed building project is under consideration. In the interim, officials in my Department have been in contact with the school management regarding the provision of temporary accommodation. Additional information is expected from the school management shortly and when this documentation is received the school authority will be notified of the position without delay.

I will not refer to the money spent in the past; suffice it to say that, under the national development plan, almost €4.5 billion will be invested in schools. This is an unprecedented level of capital investment which reflects the commitment of the Government to continue its programme of sustained investment in primary and post-primary schools. This investment will facilitate the provision of new schools and extensions in developing areas and the improvement of existing schools, through the provision of replacement schools, extensions or large-scale refurbishments over the coming years.

The progression of all large-scale building projects from initial design stage through to construction is considered on an ongoing basis in the context of the national development plan and the Department's multi-annual schools building and modernisation programme. The proposed project for Eglish national school likewise will be considered in that context. I assure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, is committed to providing suitable high-quality accommodation for Eglish national school at the earliest possible date.

University Status.

Deputy Thomas McEllistrim

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this important issue. I call on the Minister for Education and Science to grant university status to the Institute of Technology, Tralee.

The past 40 years have seen a massive expansion in the growth and range of higher education institutions worldwide. In Ireland, as in many other countries, the response to demand for third level education resulted in the establishment of institutions with the specific remit of being close to the world of work. The development and growth of the network of institutes of technology has greatly enhanced access to third level education across the country and to many students who might not have entered third level were they not available.

Our third level institutions have responded well to the demands of a rapidly changing Ireland and a changing world and they are uniquely placed to respond to new demands of both a local and international nature. All our institutes of technology have established reputations in teaching, innovation and research but many of those centrally involved in our institutes now say the dual titling system in Ireland is creating unnecessary confusion.

New thinking is now emerging on the needs of current and future workforces, the economy and society. Across the world, different models are being developed for universities that better reflect the increasing diversity of types of institutions in higher education. In other countries systems have now been developed and re-aligned in response to the needs of students and society. Some countries, such as Germany and Finland, have dealt with the ambiguity of the institutional title by reclassifying their equivalent institutions as "universities of applied science". This has not only addressed ambiguities but has also enhanced the ability of these colleges to attract students and compete more effectively for research funding and trade internationally.

The agreed paper on university designation from 12 institutes of technology, including the Institute of Technology, Tralee, asks that the matter be addressed now rather than allow growing local campaigns to distract from the real issues of meeting the rising knowledge needs of young people, the workforce, enterprise and the economy. The paper states maintaining the status quo is not sustainable and outlines three options: federal university arrangements among all institutes of technology; federal arrangements between institutes of technology and existing universities; or the renaming of the institutes to include “university” in the title.

At the Institute of Technology, Tralee, one of the signatories to the aforementioned agreed paper, students are offered a wide range of courses within a dynamic learning environment. With superb facilities and student services, the institute has been to the forefront of learning since its establishment and has gained a reputation as a centre of distinction for teaching, learning, research and academic achievement.

The mission statement of the institute is: "To excel in teaching, research and development work, for the benefit of students, industry and the wider community". It offers a range of programmes ranging from certificate through to honours degree, masters and PhD level. Enhancing the taught programmes is a world class programme of research. The institute is a major contributor, both nationally and regionally, to economic, social and cultural development. Its programmes and research activities are influenced by national and regional needs and constantly refined to absorb the very latest developments and innovations.

The institute shares its campus with Kerry Technology Park and has fostered close links with companies based there. The multi-million euro development master plan has seen significant developments in learning, teaching, research and student sports facilities, providing quality facilities for learners. The institute has a strong record of innovation in programme design and delivery and has led the sector in a number of areas, for example, the add-on degree structure; e-learning and methodologies; video conferencing and so on.

Strong links with external organisations and companies result in the institute delivering a true competitive advantage to the business community. It is committed to maintaining the highest levels of quality education and research through further developing its collaborative links with industry and educational and research institutions internationally. The range of activities undertaken properly classifies the institute as a university and it is actually recognised as such within the European Union.

Further expansion of international activities is planned. It is vitally important that the status of the institute is readily understood at home and abroad. University designation would be hugely beneficial for the regional economy, providing a further incentive for investment by both local and international industry. It would mean better recognition for the college on an international level and broaden the scope for collaboration with universities worldwide. The application for university status is based on merit. In most countries the term "university" would be the only accurate description for the institution that the Institute of Technology Tralee has become. I urge the Minister to consider conferring university status on the institute.

Deputy Michael Ahern

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment. The process for designation of an educational institution as a university is prescribed by the Universities Act 1997. Section 9 of the Act provides that the Government may appoint a body which will include national and international experts to advise the Higher Education Authority on whether, having regard to the objects and functions of a university, an educational institution should be established as a university. On the advice of the body and the recommendation of the authority, the Government may, by order, provide that the institution shall be a university for the purposes of the Act.

To date applications have been received to invoke section 9 of the Universities Act, 1997 from Waterford Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology and Cork Institute of Technology. The Department of Education and Science has not received an application from Institute of Technology Tralee for designation as a university. Applications for designation as a university require a detailed examination in the context not only of the statutory process to which they are subject but also their wider implications for higher education policy generally.

In 2004 the Government commissioned a comprehensive review of the higher education system. The OECD considered that for a country with a population of just over 4 million, Ireland had a significant number of higher education institutions and that the differentiation of mission within the sector had been a significant contributory factor to economic growth. It recommended that such differentiation be preserved and that there should be no further institutional transfers into the university sector. It identified an enormously important role for the institutes of technology in regional development and in respect of a broad range of qualifications and applied research, while the university sector should be expected to carry the major research role, especially in fundamental and basic research. It also recommended better co-ordination of policy towards the sectors by bringing them together under a common authority with machinery to prevent mission drift in either direction but with a loosening of controls on the institutes.

The broad thrust of the OECD recommendations were accepted by the Government in 2005 and reflected in the Institutes of Technology Act 2006 which addresses significant elements of these recommendations and marks a major milestone for the sector and the development of higher education. Its commencement last year provides for the creation of a unified management structure framework for higher education by bringing the institutes of technology sector under the remit of the Higher Education Authority.

The legislation also extends significant new managerial and academic autonomy to the institutes, aimed at facilitating further development of their roles. For example, institutes will have the right and responsibility to preserve and promote the traditional principles of academic freedom in the conduct of their internal and external affairs. The budgets of individual institutes will now be set by the HEA rather than by the Department and specific approval to run individual courses or programmes will no longer be required. The institutes will also be able to borrow funds under a framework agreed with the HEA and the Departments of Finance and Education and Science. It has also been accepted that income generated by third level institutions from external sources should not be subject to offsetting in the allocation of Exchequer funding.

Since 1997, the profile of institutes of technology has changed considerably. They now provide a much higher proportion of degree courses. Whereas in 1997 only the DIT had degree awarding powers, now all institutes have delegated authority from HETAC to award degrees, some up to doctoral level.

The Department of Education and Science and the HEA are already working on ways in which the specific research capacity of the institutes can be enhanced through the dedicated funding stream of the technology sector research programme. The need to strengthen the overall research capability of the institutes of technology, while ensuring coherence is maintained within the higher education system, is also acknowledged. Measures such as the technological sector research programme have been put in place specifically to assist them in developing this capacity. Some €7 million is earmarked for this year. It is expected that this funding will be increased incrementally under the strategy for science, technology and innovation. Institutes also benefit from funding from Enterprise Ireland, for example, for incubation centres and technology transfer offices.

The Institute of Technology Tralee has gained a reputation as a centre of distinction for teaching, learning and research. It has a practical orientation designed to be responsive to the needs of the local industry and business. In particular, it has fostered very close links with the companies based in Kerry Technology Park. The Government is committed to supporting the institute into the future in continuing to make a significant contribution to the economic, social and cultural development of the south west and beyond. The Government wants to build on our strengths and provide an environment where all our higher education institutions can develop in a way that best serves the country as a whole and the regions where they are based. These issues must be central to consideration of any application for designation as a university.

I thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to respond to the House on this matter.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.10 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 23 April 2008.

Dáil Éireann debate - Tuesday, 22 Apr 2008