Why the hold-up at new community hospital?

THE controversy over the expected opening of the recently-built community hospital at Dingle came as no surprise to me.

For many years a district hospital served the town and its catchment area. It operated under the control of a health authority which consisted not only of the Department of Health, but also of members of Kerry county council, of which I was a member.

When a serious problem arose, it was a matter for the county health authority and the Department of Health to enter into discussions and, within a short time, a satisfactory decision was arrived at. The site for the new hospital was acquired without a problem and there was no objection to planning permission being granted.