"No mention of 24/7 cardiac care" - TDs clash over UHW omission from PfG
Thousands turned out to march in Waterford on Saturday for 24/7 Cardiac Care in 2016. Photo: Joe Evans
Waterford TD David Cullinane had described the Programme for Government as "full of vague commitments" and criticised the lack of mention of 24/7 Cardiac Care at University Hospital Waterford.
"The draft Programme for Government is full of vague commitments," the Sinn Féin spokesperson for Health said.
"Not a great start for the two Government Representatives," he added.
"The programme commits to progressing the Waterford Airport Project with no timeframes and no specifics."
Deputy Cullinane drew attention to the lack of reference to comprehensive cardiac care coverage at UHW: "There is no mention of 24/7 cardiac care, no mention of Waterford Port and no mention of upgrading the N24 and N25 Roads to Limerick and Cork."
However, Fianna Fáil Minister of State Mary Butler disagreed and in a statement to Waterford News & Star, said: "24/7 cardiac care is covered via a commitment to build on the existing national cardiovascular policy by developing a new and more ambitious plan to enhance patient care and timely access across all regions."
The Programme for Government does not directly reference the University Hospital Waterford or the long-awaited provision of 24/7 cardiac care but commits the Government to "building on the existing National Cardiovascular Policy, we will develop a new and more ambitious plan enhancing patient care and timely access across all regions".
While Deputy Cullinane criticised the lack of mention of upgrades to the N24 and N25 Roads to Limerick and Cork, Minister Butler characterised the Programme for Government as including a "firm commitment" on the matters.
"There’s also a firm commitment of investment for some of Waterford’s key road projects, under the National Development Plan, such as the Cork to Waterford road and the Waterford to Limerick road," the Fianna Fáil TD for Waterford said.
The Programme for Government as published does not directly reference these roads but does include a commitment to "invest in all road projects in the current National Development Plan and consider additional important road projects as part of the NDP review".
The current National Development Plan lists the developments of the N24 from Cahir to Limerick Junction and from Cahir to Waterford as well as the N25 Waterford to Glenmore.
