Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 29 Mar 2011

Vol. 728 No. 6

Adjournment Debate

School Transport

Deputy Michael Creed

I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for facilitating an Adjournment debate on this matter.

Changes to the school transport system will always be a contentious issue. Any interference with it can have a ripple effect, affecting not just pupils but the schools concerned. Rural schools tend to be affected more as well.

The value for money review of the school transport system provided some interesting facts. In 2009, 125,000 pupils were transported every day by the schools transport system compared to 157,000 in 1997. In 2009, however, the service cost €196 million, an increase of 300% on the 1997 cost. While I agree the State must carry out value for money reviews on such services, it is also important it consults those affected by any proposed changes. For example, the average annual cost of transporting a primary school pupil comes to €1,020 and €958 for a post-primary student. The associated extras, such as escorts and a longer service time into July, for transporting children with special educational needs means the actual cost for those pupils can be in excess of €9,000. Another interesting fact that emerged in the review is that it is 20% cheaper to have the service operated by the private sector rather than Bus Éireann.

I am, however, concerned the school transport review group had no representatives from school patrons, teacher or parent organisations, the very people who will be directly affected by any changes. It is also regrettable that on 8 March 2011, the day before the 31st Dáil met, the Department of Education and Skills published the VFM report, which had been in its possession for several months, on its website and which outlined charges to be introduced from next September.

I am not opposed to charges per se, that is not why I am raising this matter. I am particularly concerned about changes proposed to central or closed school rules. Schools that closed in the past, perhaps 20 or 30 years ago, were merged into a central school. As a consequence, the children in the closed school catchment area had an entitlement to free school transport to the central school for many years. Now, at the stroke of a pen, that agreement entered into by the Department and the patrons of the school has been torn up without consultation with parents, patrons or teachers. The consequence of this is that each child will be considered in terms of the nearest school and whether the child meets the new criteria for transport.

Many who have free transport to existing schools will find they no longer have that entitlement but may have an entitlement to transport to another school. Over the intervening years, education infrastructure has been invested in all schools but more so in the central school. We may now witness a movement away from the central school to smaller, peripheral schools where there is not adequate classroom provision, etc. In being penny wise — that is questionable — the Department may be pound foolish because it will incur additional expenditure to accommodate students in other schools, classrooms and prefabs. That has not been considered.

The circular from Bus Éireann——

Acting Chairman (Deputy Joanna Tuffy)

Deputy Creed's time is up.

Deputy Michael Creed

This is a complex issue and I appreciate the attendance of the Minister of State. I will conclude on this point. The circular indicates that the child already enrolled in the school will continue to have those transport arrangements by virtue of the fact that the child has commenced school, whereas the brother or sister starting next year will not have the entitlement. Instead, he or she may have an entitlement to transport to another school. Families will be split and sent in different directions. This will make for a long, hot summer in rural Ireland. School transport is an emotive issue and I ask the Minister to withdraw the circular the Department issued to schools through Bus Éireann and to sit down in consultation with parents, teachers and interest groups.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Kathleen Lynch)

I am replying to this matter on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills. The reply is substantial. This is a complicated and emotive issue. I will convey the Deputy's pleadings to the Minister. If I do not complete my contribution within five minutes, we may take it that it will be read into the Official Report.

I thank Deputy Creed for giving me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon. Before I address the issue of the changes to the primary school transport scheme, I would like to give Members of the House an outline of the extent of the school transport service. The Deputy has attempted to do this and it is quite complicated. School transport is a very significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department and covering over 82 million km annually. Some 123,000 children, including more than 8,000 children with special needs, are transported in approximately 4,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. Children eligible for transport may use scheduled public transport services including the DART and LUAS although I assume that is rare in Deputy Creed's constituency.

A number of changes to the school transport scheme were announced in Budget 2011 by the former Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan and the former Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan. The changes regarding the primary school transport scheme derive from recommendations in the recently published value for money report of the scheme and relate to the introduction of charges, changes to the closed school rule, changes to the minimum numbers required to establish or maintain a service and new arrangements to be put in place with Bus Éireann on a phased basis for the operation of the scheme. I will give a brief outline of the changes.

With effect from the 2011-12 school year a transport fee of €50 per annum will be introduced for eligible primary school pupils, with a maximum family charge for eligible primary pupils only, of €110. Eligible children who hold a valid medical card are exempt from paying the charge. Approximately 26,000 pupils, or an estimated 58% of eligible pupils, will be liable to pay the charge. Evidence suggests school transport charges compare very favourably with the charges being levied by the private sector. While the charges vary, in the private sector some parents are paying between €20 and €25 per child per week which equates to about €730 and €915 per child per school year at primary level. The Department's charge for the 2011-12 school year is €50 per eligible primary child per annum with a family maximum of €110 for eligible primary children per annum.

As a consequence of the introduction of charges, parents will now have to apply directly to Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department, for school transport for their children. This charge is being introduced to ensure that school transport provided for eligible primary pupils is fully utilised in a cost effective manner. The closed school rule for school transport eligibility purposes was introduced in the 1960s in circumstances where a primary school was closed and amalgamated with another. Under this closed school rule, where a primary school is closed and amalgamated with another, pupils residing in the closed school area are eligible for transport to the school of amalgamation even though they may reside less than 3.2 km from the school.

There is also what is called a central school rule resulting from the amalgamation of a greater number of schools. In these instances transport is provided for children residing not less than 1 mile or 1.6 km from the new central school. No time limit has been applied to the closed school and central school rules. In some cases the primary schools in question were closed up to 40 years ago and amalgamated with another school. In some instances, a newer school has subsequently been built in the general area of the original closed school. Under the current primary school transport scheme, however, the transport provided will be to the amalgamated school only, even in circumstances where there is actually a newer school closer to the pupil's home. A pupil in these circumstances is not eligible for free transport to the newer school.

I accept that it is a complicated issue. I will convey the Deputy's concerns and I appreciate that Deputy Creed brought this to the Minister's notice. I hope we can resolve this.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

In the 2009-10 school year, transport services under the closed school rule operated to more than 800 primary schools with almost 26,000 children, 54.4% of mainstream tickets issued, deemed eligible for school transport under this rule. In the majority of cases where such transport has been provided pupils in fact attend their nearest primary school. While the application of the CSR is referred to in these cases, it does not mean that they are not travelling to their nearest school.

The transport of such a significant number of children, some of whom would not qualify for transport on the basis of the distance criterion alone, involves a cost. The specific changes announced in relation to the closed school rule are as follows. From the commencement of the 2011-12 school year, the distance criteria will be applied to all pupils attending primary schools and the exemption under the closed school rule will cease. This means that children who reside less than 3.2 km, or two miles, from the school of attendance and who are availing of free transport to that school under the closed school rule will lose their transport eligibility; from the 2012-13 school year, eligibility based on the closed school rule, CSR, and the central school rule will cease for all new children entering primary schools. Existing primary pupils availing of transport under the CSR will retain transport eligibility for the duration of their schooling, provided the requisite distance is met.

The practical consequence of these changes is the principle that using the distance criteria as the key eligibility criterion, having regard to language and ethos, will be applied equitably nationally; transitional arrangements for a period of seven years will be required to cater for the eligible primary cohort attending the amalgamated school to allow them complete their schooling at the school; in the case of all future primary school amalgamations eligibility will be based on the distance criteria applying at that time and attendance at the nearest school; and from 2012-13, pupils residing in a closed school area, for whom the amalgamated school is not their nearest but who enrol in their nearest school, will be eligible for school transport provided the requisite distance of 3.2 km is met.

Bus Éireann is undertaking a detailed assessment of pupils attending each school concerned. Parents affected will be notified by Bus Éireann of changes to their transport eligibility with effect from the 2011-12 school year. In regard to the minimum numbers required to establish or maintain a service, the changes mean that services under the minimum numbers, either single services or which are part of double tripping arrangements, will be discontinued. A pick-up density of pupils in a distinct locality on a particular route — increasing from the current minimum of seven to ten eligible children — will be required to establish or retain services.

All services transporting less than the minimum number of eligible children, either single services or which are part of double tripping arrangements, will be discontinued with effect from the 2011-12 school year. This brings the minimum numbers required to establish services back to 2002 levels. For the past two school years, under the terms of the school transport scheme, single run services transporting less than the minimum numbers have been discontinued. Bus Éireann will undertake a detailed examination of all such services to establish the routes in question. Parents and guardians of pupils affected will be notified of changes.

It should be emphasised that eligible pupils for whom a service is being withdrawn, will be eligible to apply for the remote area grant. This is paid directly by the Department on submission of a certificate of school attendance. The amount payable is based on distance up to a maximum of 9.7 km or a maximum grant of €5.10 per day per family which equates with €933 per school year based on full attendance.

New arrangements will be put in place with Bus Éireann on a phased basis for the operation of the scheme. These will include arrangements for an increasing proportion of routes to be provided by private operators. From the 2012-13 school year, Bus Éireann will have full responsibility for the operation of the school transport system including responsibility for processing all applications for school transport or grants. Synergies between school transport, rural transport and Health Service Executive services will be further developed.

Finally, I wish to advise that all families served by school transport and indeed all schools served with school transport received an explanatory advance notice from Bus Éireann outlining all the relevant changes to the primary school transport scheme in particular for the school year 2011-12 and also 2012-13 school year. The communication also included an application form and contact details where families or schools could have any aspect of the changes clarified. The main purpose of this advance notice was to explain the changes coming on stream and to give parents and schools advance notice in this regard. I again thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

Arts Funding

Deputy Brian Walsh

Seo é an chéad ócáid dom cupla focal a rá sa Dáil nua agus sa Teach stairiúil, tábhachtach seo. Tá mé thar a bheith bródúil a bheith anseo mar Theachta Dála nua ar son muintir na Gaillimhe agus ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le chuile duine a thug cabhair agus tacaíocht dom i rith an olltoghcháin, go mór mór mo chlann, muintir na Gaillimhe agus mo chairde.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter and I thank the Minister of State for attending. I refer to the funding for the only national Irish language theatre in the country, Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe, which has been displaced since its premises were badly damaged by fire in 2007. Plans for the restoration of this historic building were prepared some time ago. A commitment was made by the previous Government that it would match a contribution of €300,000 provided by Galway City Council and the theatre company. The contribution by Galway City Council was made conditional on the provision of equal funding by the Government. That funding never materialised and, as a result, the only Irish language theatre in the country remains idle to this day. That Government left office without fulfilling the commitment it made on the project. That broken promise can be counted among the litany of broken promises on which that Administration has already been judged by the electorate.

It is a shame that the landmark theatre, which has been an epicentre of culture and the arts both locally and nationally for more than 80 years, has been allowed to remain derelict since 2007. Its board has been gallant in its efforts to continue staging productions at other locations since then, but it has done so at considerable cost at a time when it is striving to raise funds to assist it to return to its rightful base.

Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe has a rich history as the national Irish language theatre and since 1928 has showcased, nurtured and helped develop the talents of many legendary names of Irish screen and stage. It was there that the curtains were first raised on the illustrious careers of Walter Macken, Siobhan McKenna and Máirtín Ó Direáin and where the likes of Sean McClory and others tread the boards before they took their first steps on their way to greater achievement. It was there, too, that actor Mick Lally first came to prominence. His sad passing last year was marked with warm tributes from Members of this House, rightly so. There could be no more fitting tribute to him, with the first anniversary of his death approaching, than for provision to be made to secure the future of the theatre to which he owed some of his success and through which he gave so much enjoyment to many people not just in Galway but across the country.

Questions have been asked in recent times about my party's policy on the national language. I can think of no clearer signal to demonstrate our commitment to Irish as a vibrant, living language than to support the national Irish language theatre in its efforts to return to its traditional home. The Irish language has been independently calculated to be worth more than €136 million to the local economy in Galway and supports more than 5,000 jobs in the area. Galway is a thriving centre of excellence for the arts, music, theatre, literature and language. The Irish language is a unique selling point in Galway's image and cultural identity, and failure to support it would ultimately be counterproductive from the perspective of Exchequer finances. In the current economic climate, we must look towards our strengths in order to emerge from the economic crisis. Among the strengths we possess are the arts, culture and tourism. Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe plays an important role in all three areas. It is with a sense of urgency that I ask the Minister to provide the necessary funding for the restoration and renovation of the theatre. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to make a statement.

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Dinny McGinley)

Ba mhaith liom tréaslú leis an Teachta Walsh as a chéad óráid anseo sa Dáil agus as gur thóg sé ábhar chomh tábhachtach le Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe. Tuigfidh éinne a bhfuil aon eolas ar dhrámaíocht nó litríocht na Gaeilge aige nó aici an tábhacht atá le Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe ó 1928 nuair a bunaíodh é. Tuairim pearsanta atá sa mhéid sin, mar go bhfuil suim agam sa dhrámaíocht. Tá amharclann lán-Ghaeilge sa cheantar ar as mé féin, Gaoth Dobhair, a bhfuil clú agus cáil air. Tá a fhios sin ag an Teachta ar an taobh trasna, mar is dóigh go raibh sé in amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair. Nuair a bhí mise i mo bhuachaill óg, cosúil leis an Teachta, ba ghnáth liom anois agus arís, a bheith ag aisteoireacht sa Damer, i bhFaiche Stiabhna anseo i mBaile Átha Cliath. B'shin an t-amharclann a bhí ag Gael Linn, ach faraor, níl sé ann anois. Is mór an trua é nach bhfuil. Caithfimid a dhéanamh deimhin de go mbeidh Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe againn bliain i ndiaidh bliana.

At the outset, I recognise the work undertaken by Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe, as the national Irish language theatre, in promoting Irish language theatre. Since 1928, An Taibhdhearc has undertaken pioneering work which has contributed to the theatrical tradition in Ireland through the Irish language plays produced in An Taibhdhearc and throughout the country. An Taibhdhearc's fundamental objective is to develop and promote plays in Irish through the provision of a platform for new dramas produced professionally. In addition, An Taibhdhearc supports and nurtures a positive environment for the Irish language theatrical arts by providing training opportunities of the highest quality to young people in the theatre.

My Department makes an annual grant towards the running costs of An Taibhdhearc to enable it to fulfil its work programme. The grant consists of €323,920 for the current year. Following a major fire in November 2007 which seriously damaged the fabric of the theatre building itself, the management of An Taibhdhearc sought assistance from my Department with the refurbishment costs. In a letter to Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe in May 2010, my Department informed An Taibhdhearc that it was willing to grant €300,000 in principle for refurbishment works, subject to a number of conditions being fulfilled by 31 December 2010. These conditions included written confirmation from Galway City Council that it would provide co-funding of €300,000 for the project; written confirmation from An Taibhdhearc that the balance of costs would be met by An Taibhdhearc; agreement that the refurbishment of the theatre building would be an interim arrangement until the new proposed centre for the Irish language would be built in Galway city and that An Taibhdhearc would be willing to move to this centre in due course. With regard to the co-funding condition, my Department was informed in December 2010 by An Taibhdhearc that Galway City Council had approved funding of €50,000 per annum over a period of six years.

While my Department recognises the need for funding for refurbishment works at An Taibhdhearc, I wish to inform the Deputy that the capital funding available this year to my Department under the Irish language support schemes is very limited. The capital funding under this subhead consists of €100,000 for 2011. However, my Department is willing to examine the feasibility of providing some funding to An Taibhdhearc to enable it to begin to carry out the refurbishment works over a period of time. Notwithstanding this, the Deputy will appreciate that before any final decision is made, my Department will need to satisfy itself that An Taibhdhearc is in a position to carry out the refurbishment works within the resources available to it.

Molaim an Teachta as an cheist seo a thógáil ar an Athló agus geallaim dó go gcoinneoidh mé i dteagmháil leis maidir leis an cheist thábhachtach seo.

Care of the Elderly

Deputy Brendan Smith

This is the first chance I have had publicly to congratulate Deputy Kathleen Lynch on her appointment as Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children and, similarly, to congratulate Deputy Dinny McGinley on his appointment as Aire Stáit comh maith.

In the past decade there has been a major investment in the provision of new facilities for the elderly in County Cavan. That investment resulted in the provision of new nursing units for the elderly in Ballyconnell and Virginia with bed capacity, respectively, of 30 and 50. Alongside those units new primary care centres were developed as well. The third HSE nursing unit in County Cavan is St. Joseph's at Lisdaran on the campus of Cavan General Hospital.

I know many of the staff working in all the units and, similarly, over the years I have known many patients availing of the services in those units. Likewise, I know and have known many families who very much appreciate the excellent and professional care and attention their loved ones received in those units. I strongly commend and appreciate the work of all HSE staff involved in providing services for older people in Cavan-Monaghan.

There is widespread concern in County Cavan about the future use of the Lisdaran unit. There are currently 44 patients in the unit and six of the beds are used for respite care. With State investment it has been possible through upgrading of facilities to provide additional patient comforts and enhance the quality of patient care. The Lisdaran unit plays a critical role in the care of the elderly in my county. It is necessary to make maximum use of the unit. There can be no reduction in the level of service provided in the nursing unit. I seek an assurance from the Minister that there will be no reduction in the level of services or bed capacity of the Lisdaran unit. Making the maximum use of the nursing unit will contribute to the HSE's own goal of optimising the provision of quality care.

The families who have loved ones being cared for to a very high standard in the Lisdaran unit seek an assurance on its future and the level of services to be provided there. Similarly, all the staff deserve to know the exact position.

I commend all involved on delivering a highly professional and excellent standard of care to patients in the nursing units to which I referred. I reiterate the importance of the unit for so many patients and their families in County Cavan.

Deputy Kathleen Lynch

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Lisdarn Centre for the Older Person, County Cavan. Government policy is to enable 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. We continue to develop and improve health services in all regions of the country to meet this objective and to ensure quality and patient safety. The Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for the delivery of health and social services, including those at facilities such as Lisdarn Centre for the Older Person. The centre is located on the grounds of Cavan General Hospital. There are 44 occupied beds in Lisdarn — 38 long-term care beds and six respite beds. In addition, there are ten assessment beds, which are not occupied for a number of reasons, including a reduction in people requiring this type of assessment and the current suspension of discharges from Cavan General Hospital due to an outbreak of Norovirus. These beds are utilised in the event of emergency respite being requested from the community. I understand there have been local concerns recently in regard to the future of the Lisdarn unit. However, the HSE does not foresee closure to Lisdarn or any other residential care facility for older people in Cavan and Monaghan.

Since the introduction of the nursing home support scheme in October 2009, older people are now free to choose the nursing home, public or private, in which they wish to live. The level of occupancy of long-stay beds at Lisdarn is being monitored to establish the ongoing demand for these services. The HSE in Cavan-Monaghan is examining bed utilisation in long-stay residential care facilities. One of the options being considered is a reconfiguration of services, including the balance between long-term care beds and a more responsive short-term service, including respite and convalescent care, to meet the demand from the community. The HSE is committed to optimising the provision of quality care and maximising efficiencies.

The examination in Cavan-Monaghan is expected to be concluded by 21 April this year and is led by the director of nursing and heads of services. The HSE stresses that any future changes to the services at the Lisdarn centre will be communicated, in the first instance, to the residents, their families and the staff. In addition, the HSE will keep members of the public and public representatives informed of developments.

The HSE has indicated there are no plans or proposals to close any beds in Lisdarn this year. It should be noted, however, that with the introduction of the recruitment moratorium in the public service, nurses or care staff who leave, retire or are absent on maternity or sick leave are not replaced. The HSE must maintain appropriate staffing levels to meet the needs of residents. Should staffing levels at Lisdarn drop below these levels, beds may need to close to ensure a safe level of care for the residents.

The Department of Health and Children is reviewing the provision of public long-stay care in the light of the need to meet national standards and regulations, local demographic pressures and public and private provision. The review will inform the development of an overall strategy on how the HSE should continue to provide this service in future in view of current budgetary and other pressures. It is expected that the review will be completed in the middle of the year.

Following his appointment as Minister for Health and Children, my colleague, Deputy Reilly, requested that the HSE suspend any current plans to close or withdraw residential care beds until he has had an opportunity to review the position. He has requested a full report from the HSE on this matter and will examine this issue carefully upon receipt of this information. However, providing quality and safe care for long-stay residents will have to remain at the heart of these considerations. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue.

Hospital Services

Deputy Gerry Adams

Táim buíoch don Aire Stáit as ucht fanacht anseo linn chun páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht seo.

The public health care system in Louth and east Meath is in crisis because of the Fianna Fáil-led Government pursuing a policy of privatisation. This has stripped Louth County Hospital of its essential services. The children's ward was the first to go, followed by the maternity ward and the gynaecological unit. We were told the maternity unit was to be closed temporarily but it never reopened. The midwife-led unit was to be put in its place but this never happened. In June 2003, we were told that the building identified for use as a midwife-led unit would require some modification. This work was to have been completed in 2004 but we are still waiting. The domino effect of cuts led to the withdrawal of accident and emergency and acute medical services last July. This is a very serious and life-threatening situation that the Fine Gael-Labour Government can reverse if there is the political will to do so.

The stripping away of services in Louth County Hospital has a knock-on effect on Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. It is now unable to cope with the demands being made on it. Two months ago, I visited the accident and emergency unit in the latter hospital and was appalled at the number of patients lying on hospital trolleys, chairs and even the floor. While these distressed, sick and, in some cases, very elderly women were in a very modern building, they were really in Third World conditions.

The front-line staff in the hospital, as with the staff in Louth County Hospital, are doing their very best and wonderful work. They have insufficient resources and there has been very bad planning by the HSE and the previous Government. The staff are committed to the care of the sick and injured. Patients are clearly victims of the two-tier health system and the staff are frustrated because their vocation is one of caring. They are not being given the resources necessary for them to fulfil their duties.

According to the previous Government, the rationale for stripping away Louth's services was that these services would be transferred to a new regional hospital. Even if we buy into that logic, we must realise the new regional hospital should have been put in place before any services were removed from another. Sinn Féin's policy is to have local services available to people at the closest point of access.

The Save Our Hospital Services campaign group has written to the Minister seeking a meeting. I appeal to the Minister of State to pass on this request to the Minister in order that there will be a meeting with the campaign group to discuss the future of Louth County Hospital. Tá sé tuillte go maith acu agus caithfidh saoránaigh seirbhísí ospidéil éifeachtúla a bheith ar fáil acu ina ndúiche. Sinn Féin supports the campaign to restore accident and emergency services in Louth County Hospital. As a first step, we would like to see the services put in place, like dominoes, after which we would proceed to acute medical, intensive care and emergency services.

There should be a midwife-led unit in Dundalk, as was promised. The provision of such services would have a very positive effect on citizens and also on the health services available in both Our Lady of Lourdes and Navan hospitals. The people of Louth and east Meath and of the rest of this island deserve a health service that treats them with respect, looks after the elderly and provides public nursing home beds, effective community care facilities and home care.

There should be proper funding for mental health provision. The mental health service is the Cinderella of the health service. I ask the Minister of State to reinstate the accident and emergency service, acute medical beds and intensive care unit at Louth County Hospital and to provide a midwife-led unit.

Deputy Kathleen Lynch

The Deputy will be glad to know that this is the shortest reply of the night; nonetheless it is important. I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy James Reilly. I thank the Deputy for raising it.

In recent years the HSE has been working to reorganise services in the Louth-Meath hospital group. Louth County Hospital has continued to play an important and expanding role in the provision of health services in the north-east region, with a particular focus on diagnostic and day services. A minor injuries unit and additional ambulance services were put in place to support the plan. Stroke rehabilitation, day surgical, day medical, step-down, gynaecology and radiology services remain in Louth County Hospital. In addition, the care of the elderly service has transferred to the hospital from Drogheda. General and orthopaedic rehabilitation services are being developed in Dundalk. A dedicated venesection service has been established and a new colposcopy unit opened at the hospital.

Louth County Hospital has also been selected by the National Cancer Screening Service as one of the 15 candidate screening colonoscopy units to provide the colonoscopy requirements for the colorectal cancer screening programme. It is important to stress that patient safety has been central to all decisions taken regarding the operation of health services in the region as well as nationally.

The Minister is committed to ensuring acute hospital services at national, regional and local level are provided in a clinically appropriate and efficient manner. In particular, he wants to ensure that as many services as possible can be provided safely in smaller local hospitals. In order to fully consider the issues involved, he is being briefed by the Department and the Health Service Executive on the organisation of acute services in each region and the important clinical programmes being developed by the executive. These interrelated programmes aim to improve service quality, effectiveness and patient access and ensure patient care is provided in the service setting most appropriate to individual needs.

I will pass on the Deputy's request for a meeting to the Minister. This is a new Government which will look at matters differently.

Deputy Gerry Adams

Go raibh maith agat.

The Dáil adjourned at 10.15 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 30 March 2011.