I have been concerned for some time in relation to the situation at the National Neurosurgical Centre at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. Since becoming Minister, I have been examining this very complex situation to see what steps might be taken to resolve the difficulties.
I would like to assure the Deputy that I will do my utmost to assist in reaching a satisfactory conclusion to the matter.
I am glad to inform the Deputy that two additional consultant neurosurgeons have recently taken up duty at the hospital, one of whom has a special interest in paediatric neurosurgery. This means that there is now a complement of six neurosurgeons attached to the neurosurgical centre.