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Radio Kerry Interview About Kenmare Hospital - 3rd June 2011

Well Gerry as I said in the Kerryman this week that because of the legally binding agreement negotiated and put in place by myself and Glenbeigh Construction with the HSE prior to the budget in December last year Kenmare hospital is going to be included in the capital plan and will go ahead.

Glenbeigh Construction aim to be on site and begin construction in July and this will be a 70 week building programme and will see the project built by autumn next year

As you know Gerry this project was in doubt for the last few months indeed the Kerryman ran the headline this week and last week saying the hospital may be put off until 2014

An official in the Department said to me in the last week that because of the legal agreement negotiated by Glenbeigh Construction and I that funding for construction will continue until completion of the project

When talking to Glenbeigh Construction this week they said that from talking to other construction companies that only those projects that the HSE were legally tied into would proceed and they are certain that if we had we secured a legal agreement with the HSE the Kenmare hospital project would not make the building plan for the Department of Health

And I wish to praise the efforts of Una O’Neill,  Michael Harrington, Richard Doran, Mary Fitzgerald, Maeve O’Sullivan, Mairead Doyle, Bertie McSwiney and all the doctors in the area and the many others who have supported this campaign over the years.

Their commitment over 36 years has ensured that we will get our new hospital.

Their campaign started in 1975 when you were not born and when I was 2 and I am glad that I am able to play my part as a public representative to ensure that the hospital proceeds on this occasion.