Paul McGrath Media Centre

Ombudsman says that elderly medical card holders are entitled to free nursing home care
Deputy Paul McGrath recently sought clarification from the Ombudsman on whether Medical Card holders were entitled to Nursing Home Care.
"Arising from the Ombudsman's earlier report on Nursing Homes and the Subvention System I had a number of queries concerning Nursing Home Care and the costs associated with this care," says Deputy McGrath.
"I wrote to the Ombudsman seeking clarification and his response is clear and unequivocal," says Deputy McGrath.
"The Ombudsman is of the strong view that under the Health Act of 1970 elderly persons who need Nursing Home type of care are entitled to have this service provided by the relevant Health Board.
"The Ombudsman says: 'I consider that any elderly person who needs long-stay Nursing Home type care - which typically includes nursing care, supervision, assistance with daily activities such as feeding and dressing and which may also include services such as physiotherapy or occupational therapy - is entitled to have this service provided by the relevant Health Board as an aspect of in-patient services…'
"He further says: '…because of the interpretation adopted by the Department, the Health Boards are continuing to take the line that people with Medical Cards who cannot be accommodated in Health Board long stay care facilities and who therefore have no alternative but to go to Private Nursing Homes must be dealt with under the Subvention Scheme. In other words their families must make up the difference between the subvention and the full cost. In the light of this fundamental difference in interpretation, and the continuing number of complaints which I am receiving, this is an issue that I may well have to return to in a supplementary report if the position remains as it is. I recognise fully that there are significant financial implications for the Exchequer particularly in the context of a 'greying' population. But my role, as Ombudsman, is to uphold the rights of citizens and their legal entitlements and to report to the Houses of the Oireachtas when I conclude that their rights are being infringed.
"These services should be provided by Health Boards either in one of their own hospitals or be contracted out to private institutions who can provide an adequate service," says Deputy McGrath.
"While I recognise that this provision will be costly on the Exchequer nonetheless the Government cannot set aside people's entitlements and human rights merely to save money or live within pre-determined expenditure limits," says Deputy McGrath.
"We currently have one of the lowest expenditures on Health Care in the O.E.C.D. and at a time when 'the Exchequer is awash with money' surely we must live up to our obligations particularly to the elderly," says Deputy McGrath.

Population of midlands set to decline
Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his concern at the contents of the recently published "Regional Population Projections" by the Central Statistics Office and he calls for policy initiatives to reverse the projection population loss in the midlands.
"I am amazed and concerned for the future by the recently published population projections for the midlands," says Deputy McGrath.
"While the population of the country will rise by almost 1 million over the next number of years - the midlands is the only area that will suffer a population decline. Unless we have major policy initiatives from Westmeath County Council, the I.D.A., County Enterprise Boards, V.E.C.'s and the Department of Education, The Midland Health Board then the availability of adequate health services, schools, public services will be in jeopardy.
"While the population of the midlands has gone up from 180,000 in 1961 to 205,000 in 1996, the projected population for 2031 shows a decline of 20,000 or 10% to 185,000
"This projected decline is based on an expected high rate of internal migration of 35,900 - mainly to the Greater Dublin Area, i.e. people leaving the midlands to live elsewhere.
"This population decline will also change the age profile of our area. The average age in the midlands in 1996 was 34 and this is set to increase to 45 over the projected period.
"The young population - aged 0 to 14 years - will decline by 44% compared to 1996 over the projected period and the number of births in the area is set to dramatically fall from the present rate of about 3,000 per annum to about 1,500 annually. This will of course have serious knock on effects on teacher numbers in schools and indeed on the viability of many of our schools.
"The age dependency ratio is also set to change dramatically in the midlands with the projected total dependency ratio to reach almost 70%. This means that when you add together the young - under 14 - with the elderly - over 65 - they are dependent on the working group aged 15 - 65. This ratio at 70% is projected to be the highest in the country and has serious consequences for the provision of health care etc.
"Now is the time to put in place initiatives to address these projected problems," says Deputy McGrath.
"With the County Development Plan almost completed by Westmeath County Council we have an ideal opportunity and indeed a responsibility to ensure that this plan will entice people, jobs and services to our area.
"In conjunction with the I.D.A. and other developmental organisations we have an obligation to 'bring work to the people' rather than 'the people to work'. Westmeath must be marketed as an attractive location for new industry and services and hence encourage people to relocate to Westmeath.
"We have the infrastructure, the education services, the health, leisure and sporting facilities and a quality of life that is commendable and sought after. We must encourage people to come and live in Westmeath and our planning controls should take account of this report from the C.S.O.
"All voluntary and state agencies in the midlands should be concerned about these population projections and endeavour to put in place policies and initiatives to reverse these projections," says Deputy McGrath.

McGrath welcomes approval for Phase 2B of Mullingar Hospital
Deputy Paul McGrath welcomes the announcement by the Minister for Health that the architectural design for Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital can now proceed.
"I welcome this long awaited and expected announcement concerning Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital," says Deputy Paul McGrath.
"This extension will provide almost 100 much needed additional beds in this hospital as well as providing additional Pathology, Theatres, Medical, Surgical, Administration, 36-bed Acute Psychiatric Unit, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Occupational Therapy, ICU/CCU, etc. services.
"These additional services will relieve the gross overcrowding that has occurred in Mullingar Hospital and I acknowledge the tremendous service given by staff at Mullingar Hospital who oftentimes are working in very difficult situations," says Deputy McGrath.
"This welcome announcement will now set in train the various stages which will bring the additional services on stream at Mullingar.

Architectural Planning - Architects must now be appointed to design the new services to be provided at this hospital. This position must be advertised in the European Journals and I expect it will take at least 6 months to appoint the successful applicants.

Approval of Design - The preparation of detailed designs for this massive project could take up to 12 months.

Planning Approval - An application to Westmeath County Council must be lodged and this could be approved in about 3 months from date of lodgement.

When Planning Approval is received, detailed tender documents must then be prepared and tenders sought - again through the European Journals. This process could take in excess of 6 months.

The successful contractors move onto site and commence works which will cost approximately £45 million. These works would take in excess of 12 months.

"Therefore, with all stages running smoothly and without time delays, I would expect that the additional beds at Mullingar Hospital will come on stream before January 2005," concluded Paul McGrath.

"Double speak by Government on rural bus service," says McGrath
Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his disappointment that the Athlone - Ballymore - Mullingar bus service has been withdrawn.
"This bus service has been in operation since 1932," says Deputy McGrath, "and provided a vital transport link in rural Westmeath."
"Having been brought up in Ballymore in the 1950s and 1960s I am well aware of the importance of this bus service - known as the Frank Watter's Bus - to the residents of Drumraney, Ballymore, Killare, Loughnavalley and Ballinea. I travelled on this service on countless occasions, to and from St. Finian's College, Mullingar at the beginning and end of term, as well as shopping visits to Athlone and Mullingar," says McGrath.
"Indeed, this service was very often the 'first leg' for residents from these areas commencing their sad journeys abroad in search of employment or to the mission fields of Africa or South America.
"For many this bus service provided the vital transport to and from work on a daily basis and indeed in more recent times was used by students travelling to Athlone Institute of Technology.
"More recently this service was the life line to many Free Travel Pass holders and others who made regular trips to collect pensions, for hospital, dentist, optician, chiropodist visits, for shopping, or for other every day activities," says Deputy McGrath.
"I contacted the Bus Company and they told me that they had been in receipt of £480 per week by way of payment for the Free Travel service provision.
"This sum has now been reduced to £125 per week, thus making the service unviable.
"Free Travel Pass holders in this area will now have no facility to use their Travel Pass. They are to be left isolated, totally dependent on the good will of neighbours to take them shopping.
"It is ironic that in the week when Minister Mary O'Rourke T.D., grabbed the headlines on the media with her announcement of £3.5 million for Rural Transport, that her colleague, Minister Dermot Ahern T.D. should reduce payments made for Free Travel in rural areas," says McGrath.
"This is a decided case of double speak by this Government and is typical of their lack of understanding of the needs of ordinary people," says McGrath.
"I call on Mary O'Rourke to take an interest in the needs of rural areas and have this bus service restored," concluded Deputy Paul McGrath.

"Minister for Health fails on his promise - Mullingar Hospital," says Deputy McGrath
Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his outrage that the Minister for Health, Micheal Martin T.D. had reneged on his promises concerning Mullingar General Hospital.
"Minister Martin met a deputation from the Midland Health Board on 11th April 2001 to discuss Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital.
"At this meeting the Minister gave a commitment that a decision regarding this hospital extension would be made by him within 3 months," says Deputy McGrath.
"Three months have now gone by without any announcement from the Minister," says Deputy McGrath.
"Indeed in a Parliamentary Question to him on 3rd July 2001 the Minister was very evasive and non committal on this matter.
"The people of Longford and Westmeath are being short changed by this Government in the provision of hospital services at Mullingar," says Deputy McGrath.
"Much needed additional beds and other hospital facilities are badly needed at Mullingar.
"Michael Noonan T.D., Fine Gael Party Leader, on a recent visit to the hospital gave an absolute commitment that on returning to Government he would ensure that Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital would get the immediate green light.
"Michael Noonan T.D., in 1996 when Minister for Health, provided the money to complete Phase 2A of Mullingar General Hospital and he is dismayed to see that the Ł7 million of taxpayers money invested then in this hospital, has not been used to best returns for patients in this area," says McGrath.
"It is nothing short of a disgrace that this Minister should renege on his promise and continue to ignore the health needs of people in Westmeath," says McGrath.

"Waiting list to get on 'waiting list' now exceeds almost 400 patients," says Deputy McGrath
Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his astonishment that the waiting list for appointments with orthopaedic surgeons in the Midland Health Board is now 385.
"While many people in this area have to wait up to 2 years for hip operations, it has now been revealed that 385 people are awaiting first appointments with orthopaedic surgeons to get on those waiting lists," says Deputy McGrath.
This evidence was made available to Deputy McGrath on foot of a Parliamentary Question to the Minister. The details show 136 patients waiting up to 3 months for an appointment, a further 103 waiting between 3-6 months for this important appointment.
"This means that many patients have to wait over 3 years from first being diagnosed as needing hip surgery to actually having surgery," says McGrath.
"This is a disgrace and brings shame to me as a member of the Midland Health Board," says McGrath.
"While the number of hip replacement operations has increased in recent years - up from 106 in 1994 to 231 in 2000 - nonetheless waiting times are still totally unacceptable," says McGrath.
"Since the recent European Court of Justice ruling concerning waiting time for treatment and the possibility of patients getting treatment abroad - it is now imperative that a definitive statement be issued by the Minister for Health," says Deputy McGrath.
"Health is a major issue and this Government is presiding over longer waiting lists and the new phenomenon of 'waiting lists' to get on waiting lists," says McGrath.

"Moate water supply improvements are delayed by Minister," says Deputy Paul McGrath
Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his disappointment that the Minister for the Environment has not yet approved proposals to augment the Moate Water Supply.
"The people of Moate have suffered long enough because of a poor water supply and it is totally unacceptable that further delays in improving the supply are being experienced because the Minister for the Environment is delaying approving new proposals," says Deputy McGrath.
"A consultant’s report has already recommended that an interim solution to the Moate Water shortage is to provide a new pipeline connected into the water supply at Ballymore.
"This proposed pipeline running from Ballymore via Moyvoughley to Moate would carry additional water to the Moate system as well as being capable of supplying additional households along the route of this pipeline," says Deputy McGrath.
"The consultant’s report has been approved by Westmeath County Council and has been with the Department of the Environment for quite some time. I understand that the proposals have received technical approval within the Department and now await Ministerial approval to start the job," says Deputy McGrath.
"It is disgraceful that valuable time is being lost in providing this approval (and hence bringing the new water supply 'on tap' quicker), while this Government prepare for a grand stylish announcement - no doubt with photo opportunities - of this project.
"The people of Moate have put up with this present water supply which is more akin to that of a Third World Country than a thriving economy - and will not tolerate further delays," stressed Deputy McGrath.
"I am again raising this matter in the Dáil this coming week and I hope that the Minister will not delay the approval further," says Deputy McGrath.

"Multyfarnham water supply to be augmented from mains supply at Bunbrosna," says Deputy Paul McGrath
Deputy Paul McGrath welcomes the decision that the Group Water Scheme at Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath is to be augmented with a connecting pipe to the mains supply at Bunbrosna.
"Development at Multyfarnham has been stifled in recent times because of the lack of capacity in the Group Water Scheme," says Deputy McGrath, "and the new proposed supply from Bunbrosna will alleviate this problem".
"The Multyfarnham Group Scheme can now proceed to prepare tender documents, etc. for this proposed pipeline and since there are surplus funds for water supply in Westmeath County Council, I expect that approval for the Grant Scheme will be forthcoming.
"This is indeed good news for Multyfarnham and I welcome it," concluded Deputy McGrath.

Fine Gael favours fairer compensation scheme for landowners - National Development Plan delays more costly
Fine Gael's Deputy Finance Spokesperson, Paul McGrath, said today "that the controversy between I.B.E.C. and the I.F.A. regarding the delays in proceeding with major infrastructural projects is a timely debate. The reality is that the National Development Plan has already fallen significantly behind. The Department of Finance has also confirmed that, because of increased building costs, it is likely that in the first 3 years of the development plan NDP costs will have risen by 52%.
Fine Gael proposed amendments to the Finance Bill this year, which would have exempted land transactions from Capital Gains Tax, where the lands involved were subject to a proposed Compulsory Purchase Order.
"Land purchase represents a small proportion - about 4% - of the present full cost of road developments," says Deputy McGrath.
"This means that on the proposed Kinnegad to Athlone project the total cost of acquiring the land would be about £8 million. This is particularly low figure when compared to land costs for housing or other commercial developments," says McGrath.
"Fine Gael is now drafting a Private Members Bill that contains the following proposals," says McGrath.

Proceeds from the sale of land to a statutory authority to facilitate infrastructural development would be exempted from Capital Gains Tax where the landowner has agreed a deal within 6 months of the proposed CPO being tabled.

That the price paid would be market value 'plus x percent' to compensate for inconvenience.

That compensation will be paid for all land acquired at this rate including land taken for road sidings and margins.

That landowners would have a right to increased compensation if, after 5 years, the surrounding lands have increased in value as a result of the infrastructural development.

Local Authorities and other statutory bodies will be required to pay promptly and failure to do so will mean an additional penalty payment to the landowner.

Where there are problems with legal title the State would bear the legal cost of resolving the title issue.

Where the infrastructural development takes the form of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) the landowner who disposes of land will be given a share option in the PPP.

Delays in infrastructural development could hamper continued economic growth in a very costly way and all reasonable steps must be taken to speed up the proposals in the National Development Plan. However, the co-operation of the Farming Organisations and landowners is vitally necessary in the national interest.
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	Ombudsman says that elderly medical card holders are entitled to free nursing home care Deputy Paul McGrath recently sought clarification from the Ombudsman on whether Medical Card holders were entitled to Nursing Home Care. "Arising from the Ombudsman's earlier report on Nursing Homes and the Subvention System I had a number of queries concerning Nursing Home Care and the costs associated with this care," says Deputy McGrath. "I wrote to the Ombudsman seeking clarification and his response is clear and unequivocal," says Deputy McGrath. "The Ombudsman is of the strong view that under the Health Act of 1970 elderly persons who need Nursing Home type of care are entitled to have this service provided by the relevant Health Board. "The Ombudsman says: 'I consider that any elderly person who needs long-stay Nursing Home type care - which typically includes nursing care, supervision, assistance with daily activities such as feeding and dressing and which may also include services such as physiotherapy or occupational therapy - is entitled to have this service provided by the relevant Health Board as an aspect of in-patient services…' "He further says: '…because of the interpretation adopted by the Department, the Health Boards are continuing to take the line that people with Medical Cards who cannot be accommodated in Health Board long stay care facilities and who therefore have no alternative but to go to Private Nursing Homes must be dealt with under the Subvention Scheme. In other words their families must make up the difference between the subvention and the full cost. In the light of this fundamental difference in interpretation, and the continuing number of complaints which I am receiving, this is an issue that I may well have to return to in a supplementary report if the position remains as it is. I recognise fully that there are significant financial implications for the Exchequer particularly in the context of a 'greying' population. But my role, as Ombudsman, is to uphold the rights of citizens and their legal entitlements and to report to the Houses of the Oireachtas when I conclude that their rights are being infringed. "These services should be provided by Health Boards either in one of their own hospitals or be contracted out to private institutions who can provide an adequate service," says Deputy McGrath. "While I recognise that this provision will be costly on the Exchequer nonetheless the Government cannot set aside people's entitlements and human rights merely to save money or live within pre-determined expenditure limits," says Deputy McGrath. "We currently have one of the lowest expenditures on Health Care in the O.E.C.D. and at a time when 'the Exchequer is awash with money' surely we must live up to our obligations particularly to the elderly," says Deputy McGrath.
	Population of midlands set to decline Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his concern at the contents of the recently published "Regional Population Projections" by the Central Statistics Office and he calls for policy initiatives to reverse the projection population loss in the midlands. "I am amazed and concerned for the future by the recently published population projections for the midlands," says Deputy McGrath. "While the population of the country will rise by almost 1 million over the next number of years - the midlands is the only area that will suffer a population decline. Unless we have major policy initiatives from Westmeath County Council, the I.D.A., County Enterprise Boards, V.E.C.'s and the Department of Education, The Midland Health Board then the availability of adequate health services, schools, public services will be in jeopardy. "While the population of the midlands has gone up from 180,000 in 1961 to 205,000 in 1996, the projected population for 2031 shows a decline of 20,000 or 10% to 185,000 "This projected decline is based on an expected high rate of internal migration of 35,900 - mainly to the Greater Dublin Area, i.e. people leaving the midlands to live elsewhere. "This population decline will also change the age profile of our area. The average age in the midlands in 1996 was 34 and this is set to increase to 45 over the projected period. "The young population - aged 0 to 14 years - will decline by 44% compared to 1996 over the projected period and the number of births in the area is set to dramatically fall from the present rate of about 3,000 per annum to about 1,500 annually. This will of course have serious knock on effects on teacher numbers in schools and indeed on the viability of many of our schools. "The age dependency ratio is also set to change dramatically in the midlands with the projected total dependency ratio to reach almost 70%. This means that when you add together the young - under 14 - with the elderly - over 65 - they are dependent on the working group aged 15 - 65. This ratio at 70% is projected to be the highest in the country and has serious consequences for the provision of health care etc. "Now is the time to put in place initiatives to address these projected problems," says Deputy McGrath. "With the County Development Plan almost completed by Westmeath County Council we have an ideal opportunity and indeed a responsibility to ensure that this plan will entice people, jobs and services to our area. "In conjunction with the I.D.A. and other developmental organisations we have an obligation to 'bring work to the people' rather than 'the people to work'. Westmeath must be marketed as an attractive location for new industry and services and hence encourage people to relocate to Westmeath. "We have the infrastructure, the education services, the health, leisure and sporting facilities and a quality of life that is commendable and sought after. We must encourage people to come and live in Westmeath and our planning controls should take account of this report from the C.S.O. "All voluntary and state agencies in the midlands should be concerned about these population projections and endeavour to put in place policies and initiatives to reverse these projections," says Deputy McGrath.
	McGrath welcomes approval for Phase 2B of Mullingar Hospital Deputy Paul McGrath welcomes the announcement by the Minister for Health that the architectural design for Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital can now proceed. "I welcome this long awaited and expected announcement concerning Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital," says Deputy Paul McGrath. "This extension will provide almost 100 much needed additional beds in this hospital as well as providing additional Pathology, Theatres, Medical, Surgical, Administration, 36-bed Acute Psychiatric Unit, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Occupational Therapy, ICU/CCU, etc. services. "These additional services will relieve the gross overcrowding that has occurred in Mullingar Hospital and I acknowledge the tremendous service given by staff at Mullingar Hospital who oftentimes are working in very difficult situations," says Deputy McGrath. "This welcome announcement will now set in train the various stages which will bring the additional services on stream at Mullingar. Architectural Planning - Architects must now be appointed to design the new services to be provided at this hospital. This position must be advertised in the European Journals and I expect it will take at least 6 months to appoint the successful applicants. Approval of Design - The preparation of detailed designs for this massive project could take up to 12 months. Planning Approval - An application to Westmeath County Council must be lodged and this could be approved in about 3 months from date of lodgement. When Planning Approval is received, detailed tender documents must then be prepared and tenders sought - again through the European Journals. This process could take in excess of 6 months. The successful contractors move onto site and commence works which will cost approximately £45 million. These works would take in excess of 12 months. "Therefore, with all stages running smoothly and without time delays, I would expect that the additional beds at Mullingar Hospital will come on stream before January 2005," concluded Paul McGrath.
	"Double speak by Government on rural bus service," says McGrath Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his disappointment that the Athlone - Ballymore - Mullingar bus service has been withdrawn. "This bus service has been in operation since 1932," says Deputy McGrath, "and provided a vital transport link in rural Westmeath." "Having been brought up in Ballymore in the 1950s and 1960s I am well aware of the importance of this bus service - known as the Frank Watter's Bus - to the residents of Drumraney, Ballymore, Killare, Loughnavalley and Ballinea. I travelled on this service on countless occasions, to and from St. Finian's College, Mullingar at the beginning and end of term, as well as shopping visits to Athlone and Mullingar," says McGrath. "Indeed, this service was very often the 'first leg' for residents from these areas commencing their sad journeys abroad in search of employment or to the mission fields of Africa or South America. "For many this bus service provided the vital transport to and from work on a daily basis and indeed in more recent times was used by students travelling to Athlone Institute of Technology. "More recently this service was the life line to many Free Travel Pass holders and others who made regular trips to collect pensions, for hospital, dentist, optician, chiropodist visits, for shopping, or for other every day activities," says Deputy McGrath. "I contacted the Bus Company and they told me that they had been in receipt of £480 per week by way of payment for the Free Travel service provision. "This sum has now been reduced to £125 per week, thus making the service unviable. "Free Travel Pass holders in this area will now have no facility to use their Travel Pass. They are to be left isolated, totally dependent on the good will of neighbours to take them shopping. "It is ironic that in the week when Minister Mary O'Rourke T.D., grabbed the headlines on the media with her announcement of £3.5 million for Rural Transport, that her colleague, Minister Dermot Ahern T.D. should reduce payments made for Free Travel in rural areas," says McGrath. "This is a decided case of double speak by this Government and is typical of their lack of understanding of the needs of ordinary people," says McGrath. "I call on Mary O'Rourke to take an interest in the needs of rural areas and have this bus service restored," concluded Deputy Paul McGrath.
	"Minister for Health fails on his promise - Mullingar Hospital," says Deputy McGrath Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his outrage that the Minister for Health, Micheal Martin T.D. had reneged on his promises concerning Mullingar General Hospital. "Minister Martin met a deputation from the Midland Health Board on 11th April 2001 to discuss Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital. "At this meeting the Minister gave a commitment that a decision regarding this hospital extension would be made by him within 3 months," says Deputy McGrath. "Three months have now gone by without any announcement from the Minister," says Deputy McGrath. "Indeed in a Parliamentary Question to him on 3rd July 2001 the Minister was very evasive and non committal on this matter. "The people of Longford and Westmeath are being short changed by this Government in the provision of hospital services at Mullingar," says Deputy McGrath. "Much needed additional beds and other hospital facilities are badly needed at Mullingar. "Michael Noonan T.D., Fine Gael Party Leader, on a recent visit to the hospital gave an absolute commitment that on returning to Government he would ensure that Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital would get the immediate green light. "Michael Noonan T.D., in 1996 when Minister for Health, provided the money to complete Phase 2A of Mullingar General Hospital and he is dismayed to see that the Ł7 million of taxpayers money invested then in this hospital, has not been used to best returns for patients in this area," says McGrath. "It is nothing short of a disgrace that this Minister should renege on his promise and continue to ignore the health needs of people in Westmeath," says McGrath.
	"Waiting list to get on 'waiting list' now exceeds almost 400 patients," says Deputy McGrath Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his astonishment that the waiting list for appointments with orthopaedic surgeons in the Midland Health Board is now 385. "While many people in this area have to wait up to 2 years for hip operations, it has now been revealed that 385 people are awaiting first appointments with orthopaedic surgeons to get on those waiting lists," says Deputy McGrath. This evidence was made available to Deputy McGrath on foot of a Parliamentary Question to the Minister. The details show 136 patients waiting up to 3 months for an appointment, a further 103 waiting between 3-6 months for this important appointment. "This means that many patients have to wait over 3 years from first being diagnosed as needing hip surgery to actually having surgery," says McGrath. "This is a disgrace and brings shame to me as a member of the Midland Health Board," says McGrath. "While the number of hip replacement operations has increased in recent years - up from 106 in 1994 to 231 in 2000 - nonetheless waiting times are still totally unacceptable," says McGrath. "Since the recent European Court of Justice ruling concerning waiting time for treatment and the possibility of patients getting treatment abroad - it is now imperative that a definitive statement be issued by the Minister for Health," says Deputy McGrath. "Health is a major issue and this Government is presiding over longer waiting lists and the new phenomenon of 'waiting lists' to get on waiting lists," says McGrath.
	"Moate water supply improvements are delayed by Minister," says Deputy Paul McGrath Deputy Paul McGrath expressed his disappointment that the Minister for the Environment has not yet approved proposals to augment the Moate Water Supply. "The people of Moate have suffered long enough because of a poor water supply and it is totally unacceptable that further delays in improving the supply are being experienced because the Minister for the Environment is delaying approving new proposals," says Deputy McGrath. "A consultant’s report has already recommended that an interim solution to the Moate Water shortage is to provide a new pipeline connected into the water supply at Ballymore. "This proposed pipeline running from Ballymore via Moyvoughley to Moate would carry additional water to the Moate system as well as being capable of supplying additional households along the route of this pipeline," says Deputy McGrath. "The consultant’s report has been approved by Westmeath County Council and has been with the Department of the Environment for quite some time. I understand that the proposals have received technical approval within the Department and now await Ministerial approval to start the job," says Deputy McGrath. "It is disgraceful that valuable time is being lost in providing this approval (and hence bringing the new water supply 'on tap' quicker), while this Government prepare for a grand stylish announcement - no doubt with photo opportunities - of this project. "The people of Moate have put up with this present water supply which is more akin to that of a Third World Country than a thriving economy - and will not tolerate further delays," stressed Deputy McGrath. "I am again raising this matter in the Dáil this coming week and I hope that the Minister will not delay the approval further," says Deputy McGrath.
	"Multyfarnham water supply to be augmented from mains supply at Bunbrosna," says Deputy Paul McGrath Deputy Paul McGrath welcomes the decision that the Group Water Scheme at Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath is to be augmented with a connecting pipe to the mains supply at Bunbrosna. "Development at Multyfarnham has been stifled in recent times because of the lack of capacity in the Group Water Scheme," says Deputy McGrath, "and the new proposed supply from Bunbrosna will alleviate this problem". "The Multyfarnham Group Scheme can now proceed to prepare tender documents, etc. for this proposed pipeline and since there are surplus funds for water supply in Westmeath County Council, I expect that approval for the Grant Scheme will be forthcoming. "This is indeed good news for Multyfarnham and I welcome it," concluded Deputy McGrath.
	Fine Gael favours fairer compensation scheme for landowners - National Development Plan delays more costly Fine Gael's Deputy Finance Spokesperson, Paul McGrath, said today "that the controversy between I.B.E.C. and the I.F.A. regarding the delays in proceeding with major infrastructural projects is a timely debate. The reality is that the National Development Plan has already fallen significantly behind. The Department of Finance has also confirmed that, because of increased building costs, it is likely that in the first 3 years of the development plan NDP costs will have risen by 52%. Fine Gael proposed amendments to the Finance Bill this year, which would have exempted land transactions from Capital Gains Tax, where the lands involved were subject to a proposed Compulsory Purchase Order. "Land purchase represents a small proportion - about 4% - of the present full cost of road developments," says Deputy McGrath. "This means that on the proposed Kinnegad to Athlone project the total cost of acquiring the land would be about £8 million. This is particularly low figure when compared to land costs for housing or other commercial developments," says McGrath. "Fine Gael is now drafting a Private Members Bill that contains the following proposals," says McGrath. Proceeds from the sale of land to a statutory authority to facilitate infrastructural development would be exempted from Capital Gains Tax where the landowner has agreed a deal within 6 months of the proposed CPO being tabled. That the price paid would be market value 'plus x percent' to compensate for inconvenience. That compensation will be paid for all land acquired at this rate including land taken for road sidings and margins. That landowners would have a right to increased compensation if, after 5 years, the surrounding lands have increased in value as a result of the infrastructural development. Local Authorities and other statutory bodies will be required to pay promptly and failure to do so will mean an additional penalty payment to the landowner. Where there are problems with legal title the State would bear the legal cost of resolving the title issue. Where the infrastructural development takes the form of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) the landowner who disposes of land will be given a share option in the PPP. Delays in infrastructural development could hamper continued economic growth in a very costly way and all reasonable steps must be taken to speed up the proposals in the National Development Plan. However, the co-operation of the Farming Organisations and landowners is vitally necessary in the national interest. Return to Media Centre