An election dispute was sparked yesterday by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, when he announced a £15 million investment programme for St Joseph's Hospital in Clonmel.
Labour's candidate in the South Tipperary by-election, Ms Ellen Ferris, welcomed the news but said it was an attempt to buy votes and its timing was "deeply cynical".
Mr Martin said he had accepted a tender for phase one of the "landmark development in the history of the health services in south Tipperary".
The investment would include provision of a surgical ward, accident and emergency department, operating theatre department, day care unit, intensive care unit and central sterile supply department, and clearly demonstrated "the Government's ongoing commitment to the provision of the highest standard of health care for South Tipperary," he said.
The announcement was welcomed by the Fianna Fail candidate, Mr Barry O'Brien, who said it would allow for a more integrated and comprehensive hospital service for the people of the constituency.
"(It) will involve an extensive upgrading in the range of acute services and heralds a new era for the health services of South Tipp," he added.
Ms Ferris said the "long overdue" investment would at last provide top-quality healthcare facilities in South Tipperary but claimed it was an attempt to "bribe people with their own money".
She said: "On Tuesday last the Taoiseach informed us that the decentralisation programme would not be announced during the by-election. It now seems this policy has been ditched and Fianna Fail is desperately trying to shore up its campaign with big money announcements. The people will not be fooled."
She was disappointed that Fianna Fail was using healthcare as an election ploy, "but then again, what would you expect from a Government that forced the nurses on to the picket line?"
