Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Sep 2009

Vol. 689 No. 3

Traffic Management.

Deputy Leo Varadkar

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue and appreciate that the Minister of State, Deputy Mansergh, who has responsibility for the Office of Public Works, has come to respond.

As the Minister of State will be aware, it is proposed to close the Castleknock gate of the Phoenix Park for six weeks starting next week. My constituency has only three routes into the city centre — the N3, which is currently being dug up for the M50 upgrade, Chapelizod and the Phoenix Park. It would appear that for at least the next six weeks the Castleknock gate of the Phoenix Park will be closed, essentially closing off two of the three routes into the city centre. It may not be of much concern to Members opposite that I will not be able to join them for approximately six weeks but this will also apply to the Minister for Finance who may find he has great difficulty coming to the House. The closure of this route will cause significant traffic chaos around the Castleknock area as people try to divert to other routes, including Blackhorse Avenue, Chapelizod, etc.

Why was there no consultation with local Deputies or councillors? The first knowledge we had of this was, in typical OPW fashion, signs put up on the gates informing us that it would be closed for six weeks. This has happened on a few occasions. It happened in regard to proposals to introduce a one-way system at Ashtown gate and Cabra gate which had to be abandoned because the OPW failed to consult people at the time.

Why could this work not have been done during the summer when there was relatively little traffic? It will now be done in October which is the peak traffic period in Dublin. Can this be deferred until next year? It is only for the construction of a roundabout. A temporary roundabout has been in place for the best part of two years which works well. Is it not possible to defer these works until next summer?

What arrangements will be made to organise traffic in the area during the period of the works, in particular at Farmleigh? Will White's gate be opened for six weeks? If not, what other arrangements will be made to ensure we are not all trapped in our homes for the next six weeks?

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh)

I thank Deputy Varadkar for raising this issue and I appreciate the inconvenience such works can cause to those who may live in their vicinity.

The closure of Castleknock Gate from Monday, 28 September for a maximum of nine weeks is necessitated by essential works that are required to be carried out at the Mountjoy Cross junction in the Phoenix Park. The works will require the junction to be cordoned off. It will not, therefore, be possible for vehicular traffic to cross it. There will be no disruption to people on foot or on bicycles who will be able to use the Castleknock Gate as usual.

The Mountjoy Cross junction had one of the highest accident rates in Dublin city for several years. To alleviate the dangers at the junction, a temporary roundabout was installed in 2007. This proved to be an immediate success by reducing the number of accidents considerably. However, with the increased volume of traffic using this junction, it remains dangerous. It is now proposed to replace the current temporary roundabout with a permanent structure, with the primary focus for carrying out this work being the safety of all users who use this junction, as well as considerably improving the appearance of Chesterfield Avenue at this high profile location.

The Mountjoy Cross junction has been flooded on several occasions resulting in the closure of the junction, for four days on the last occasion. Major remedial works on the drainage system at Mountjoy also need to be carried out and are being included as part of this contract to ensure minimum disruption to users of the park.

In addition to the above major construction projects, the Office of Public Works has ensured a further two projects that would also have necessitated the closure of the Castleknock Gate will be carried out while the main construction work is taking place. These are the Bord Gáis replacement of damaged pipes along Chesterfield Avenue and through the Castleknock Gate. This is necessary on safety grounds as the current pipe network is antiquated and suffering from major leaks of gas. There will also be repairs to the Castleknock Gate as a result of damage caused by a large truck.

A traffic management plan covering the period of the works has been drawn up in consultation with An Garda Síochána at the highest level and Fingal County Council. Several options were considered including night-time working and one-way, stop-go options. These were rejected on grounds of cost, that they would prolong the works into the Operation Freeflow period and the inevitable noise and inconvenience to residents of night-time working.

The plan adopted allows for the re-opening of certain closed roads in the Park to vehicular traffic, the creation of one-way traffic movement inward only at the Ashtown Gate and outward only at the Cabra Gate. The Odd Lamp Road will be re-opened to take traffic in both directions from the Phoenix Monument towards the Back Road. The Furze Road will be re-opened to take traffic to and from the main road towards the Knockmaroon Gate and the Ordnance Survey Road. Entrance to Farmleigh and the Ordnance Survey complex will be from the Ordnance Survey Road.

The advice to the Office of Public Works is that these temporary measures provide the best prospect of balancing the need to get the works completed in a timely and cost effective manner and the interests of the motorist. Extensive signage is already in place throughout the park to alert users to the new arrangements. The plans will also be widely advertised on AA Roadwatch, on the Office of Public Works, Phoenix Park and Garda websites. Extra gardaí will be on duty to help direct traffic on the first days of the closure, as well as the contractor's own staff. A study has been carried out which indicates that commuters using the alternative arrangements put in place will suffer delays of no more than 40 minutes during the first day of the gate closure and no more than 20 minutes thereafter.

The proposed roundabout was one element of a much larger scheme for the entire Chesterfield Avenue. The scheme was submitted for planning permission earlier this year, but was rejected in August on foot of an objection by An Taisce for plans for a bus lane in the park. Once the planning situation had been clarified, there was a narrow window of opportunity to complete the roundabout works, which are permitted under planning laws, before Garda restrictions on roadworks come into effect at the end of November as part of Operation Freeflow. That is why the works were not carried out during the summer.

The situation will be monitored closely over the period of the contract. Any opportunity that presents itself to expedite the works will be taken. While we regret any inconvenience caused to the public, we consider these works are of the highest priority for improving the safety of both motorists, pedestrians and cyclists at the Mountjoy Cross junction, as well as addressing the other long-term problems at this location. When the works are completed, the public welfare will have been improved.

Hospital Services.

Deputy Jack Wall

I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this important and urgent issue for all senior citizens in Kildare and west Wicklow in receipt of care at St. Vincent's Hospital, Athy, County Kildare. The closure of a ward in any hospital due to cutbacks in hospital budgets creates problems for its community, hospital personnel, patients and their families. When the closure affects a hospital that cares for senior citizens, such as St. Vincent's, it creates a larger problem as all the patients affected tend to be long-stay and very accustomed to their surroundings.

I have first-hand knowledge of the care and attention given at St. Vincent's as my mother is a long-term patient there. I acknowledge and appreciate the wonderful care given to the patients and attention to their families by the staff of the facility. Since my mother became a patient there, I have seen the advances made in the provision of extra facilities and care. Many of the facilities have been provided by the dedicated fund-raising works of the director and assistant director of nursing with voluntary groups. Gardens and walks have been created with many internal building improvement works to the benefit of the patients and their families. All are to be congratulated on this work.

The HSE, however, has determined the closure of wards in the hospital system is the answer to its financial woes. Places of excellence, such as St. Vincent's Hospital, will suffer and many senior citizens will not be able to avail of respite care. Is the HSE aware that reducing facilities or closing wards will deprive those who built this nation of their God-given right to care in their old age? The answer is patently clear. It is a book-keeping exercise where money counts and lives do not matter.

If a patient seeks palliative, respite or long-term care in St. Vincent's through the HSE application system or a GP, will they be refused the request by hospital management because of a decision by the HSE? What logic can be applied to the actions of the HSE in this regard?

The old adage, why change it if it works well, is very appropriate to this case. The hospital works well in the Kildare and west Wicklow health system. It is recognised by everyone in and outside of its catchment area as an excellent brand product that could evolve to even greater services by advancing all of its sectors, such as Alzheimer's, long-term and respite care. However, the HSE stymies progress, frustrates staff, worries patients and their families all for the reduction of the HSE financial budget.

The care of our loved ones should be beyond such budgets. The care and attention given in St. Vincent's Hospital is for what we pay our taxes. The HSE at executive level has no feel for the St. Vincent's of this world. In reality, it would rather see them closed and the service privatised than having the initiative to develop such facilities further as could easily be done at the St. Vincent's campus in Athy. The Minister for Health and Children has no other objective than privatisation as can be seen in many of the proposals that come from her Department.

Will the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, speak to the Minister for Health and Children on this matter? I note she again is absent from the Chamber. She never attends Adjournment debate matters on health services. That is not meant to be a reflection on the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary. I want the Minister of State to seek an assurance from the Minister that St. Vincent's will retain all of its facilities and that the closed ward will be re-opened to facilitate the many senior citizens from the catchment area who seek a place there. Anything else is unacceptable and the anger this closure has created will be noted when the people of South Kildare march in protest this Saturday.

Deputy Dara Calleary

I present the apologies of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, who has asked me to take this debate.

I thank Deputy Wall for raising this issue. I had the pleasure of being in his town today and I congratulate everybody involved in the very successful National Ploughing Championships.

Government policy is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Where this is not feasible, the health service supports access to quality long-term residential care where this is appropriate. The Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for the delivery of health and social services, including those at St. Vincent's Hospital, Athy.

St. Vincent's is a 199 bed long-stay unit in the Kildare-west Wicklow community care area. Staff shortages, due to recruitment issues and maternity, sick and annual leave, have put continuing pressure on supporting beds at St. Vincent's Hospital. HSE senior management, in consultation with local senior staff decided, in the interest of the residents and overall service integrity to introduce service consolidation arrangements. This consolidation required the relocation of patients from one unit, St. Camillus ward, to existing vacancies in a number of other units within St. Vincent's. This is to ensure that the highest standard of care will continue to be provided to all patients in a safe and secure environment. I believe the House will agree that the safety and care of the residents is our first concern. Most importantly we must consider what is in their best interests. Each hospital, local health office, manager, clinician and other people working in the health services has a responsibility to provide the best possible service to patients, their families and other clients of the health services.

The HSE has confirmed that it is taking steps to ensure that the closure of this ward will not result in a reduction in the number of beds available in the region. It has arranged to make additional private nursing home beds available to both community and hospital patients in order to minimise the impact of the planned changes. In addition the executive has confirmed that the hospital has catered for all scheduled respite services. The Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act was signed into law on 1 July 2009. Certain sections of the Act have been commenced to enable the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, to immediately begin price negotiations with private nursing homes. It is the Minister's intention to commence the scheme for the public in the final quarter of the year.

The scheme will equalise State support for individuals in public, voluntary and private long-term nursing home care. This will meet one of the objectives of Towards 2016, namely, that State support should be indifferent as to whether a person is in public or private care. Individuals will contribute to their care based on their income and the value of their assets. No-one will pay more than the cost of his or her care. There are approximately 20 private nursing homes with more than 1,000 beds spread across the Kildare-west Wicklow region. The introduction of the scheme should eliminate the financial need for people to seek public nursing home care. This will allow older people to choose to receive residential care in a wider range of centres, including those which would be closer to their homes and families.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.10 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 23 September 2009.