Claims €16m hospital pledge is a ‘vote gimmick’

FEARS that a Government announcement of €16 million for a new community hospital, in Dingle, could be a ‘political gimmick to buy votes’ were voiced yesterday by a potential Fine Gael candidate in Kerry South, Seamus (Cosai) Mac Gearailt.

“As far as I’m aware, this is the third time this hospital has been announced in a few years. The previous announcement was by the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, a year ago,” he said.

“Whilst I welcome the latest announcement, I have reservations because of the upcoming general election.” Mr Mac Gearailt, a FG councillor in the Dingle area, has confirmed he will be seeking a nomination to contest the next general election for the party in Kerry South.

“I won’t believe the Government until I see a contractor at work on the hospital site in Dingle. This project has been at the top of a priority list since 1997 and, with such a long delay, one has to question the timing of the announcement now,” he said.

The announcement was made by Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue, who said the 72-bed hospital should be completed by 2008.

It will replace an outdated 43-bed hospital, which was built in the middle of the 19th century.

Announcing funding of €15.7m under the Health Capital Programme 2006-2011, Arts, Sports and Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue said the new hospital was essential to support the ageing population of the west Kerry region and to improve current facilities for older people on the Dingle Peninsula.

The hospital will include a mix of beds for continuing care, rehabilitation/convalescent, respite, palliative care beds and beds which will be used for direct admissions by the local GP/primary care team.

There will also be a central module, a day care unit, a mental health day care unit and an ambulance base.

There has been anger locally about delays in proceeding with the project. Planning permission, granted in July 2002, is due to lapse next year if work does not get underway. Also, there is concern that a green field site, donated by the local O’Connor family for the hospital, could also be lost if construction does not start soon.

A population of around 9,000, of whom 18% are aged over 65, will be served by the hospital.

Meanwhile, a Tralee-based GP said Kerry General Hospital needed a medical admissions unit, separate to the A&E department.

Dr McGrath said such a unit would save the use of desperately-needed beds in A&E and allow patients to be admitted separately.