The announcement of €1.5 Million for the design and planning of the new rehabilitation unit at Roscommon Hospital has been broadly welcomed by local politicians.
Picture Credit: HSE
Minister Denis Naughten said
the news “is a positive development for all patients who will rely on rehabilitation services in every corner of Ireland.
“When complete, this project will take pressure of the National Rehabilitation Hospital and ensure that more patients are treated closer to home and in a more timely manner,” he explained.
Minister Naughten added: “It was deeply disappointing to discover during the talks on the programme for government that the funding for Roscommon’s rehabilitation unit had been dropped from the capital plan even though it had been on the HSE list 12 months earlier.
“As I said before this is not about pointing the finger of blame but it was one of my priorities on entering Government to ensure that this commitment to the people of the West of Ireland was delivered.
“I’m delighted that the rehab unit is now back on track and I look forward to the funds being made available to construct this building once the project has gone through the planning stage,” concluded Minister Naughten.
Deputy Eugene Murphy,
who couldn’t attend the event due to Dáil business, welcomed the clarification and commitment by the Minister for Health adding that the comments “were over long due but most welcome”.
Deputy Murphy continued “I have been vindicated in my stance on the issue of the rehabilitation unit and I constantly kept the pressure on the Minister’s department to clarify his position on the funding. Over €7 million was approved for the rehabilitation unit at Roscommon Hospital in May of 2015 and the funds were to be included in the 2016/2021 capital programme. Doubt had been cast on the future of the rehab unit as the Minister took some time to clarify his position but thankfully Minister Harris has today given a commitment to move ahead to the planning stage. This ten bedded unit will service the midlands and west of Ireland and the development of the unit was one of the main projects proposed for the campus following on from the closure of the A&E services,” said Deputy Murphy.
Michael Fitzmaurice TD welcomed the announcement
adding that it came “after much pressure being put on by myself and others”. Deputy Fitzmaurice continued “This took four months of constant pressure since this Government was formed to get to this announcement and hopefully the funding will be provided to bring this project to completion as it will be of huge benefit not only to the people of Roscommon, but the people of the West of Ireland in general” he concluded.