Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

One of the issues that has arisen from the North-South Ministerial Council programme is the extent of cross-Border co-operation and activity in a range of areas, including transport, education, business and health. I know from the last meeting held in Armagh that the Minister, Deputy Reilly, has had a number of meetings with the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland, Mr. Poots, MLA to discuss the effectiveness of cross-Border co-operation at a number of facilities, including between Altnagelvin hospital and Letterkenny General Hospital and the new South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen with Sligo General Hospital.

I am not sure whether the Deputy is calling for the provision of a new facility or treatment area at a cost of €95,000 or whether that figure relates to personnel. The HSE programme may have a proposal in this regard, which may be enhanced by way of co-operation between the HSE and the authorities in Northern Ireland and between the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly and Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr. Poots, MLA. I assume the matter raised by the Deputy can be followed through. The amount referred to by him is small. It may be that co-operation in terms of addressing the problem mentioned by the Deputy already exists or is under way. Perhaps Deputy Pringle would raise the issue directly with the Minister, who will be able to advise him what is happening in that regard or of the exact plans of the HSE to deal with the particular issue raised by him.

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